FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — For the second straight practice, the Falcons' defense showed out.
On Kirk Cousins' birthday, no less. The defense showed the birthday boy no preferential treatment and picked him off twice during Monday's session.
Cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr. caught the first interception which he took to the house as Cousins tried his very best to chase him down. However, the newly-turned-36-year-old couldn't catch the 31-year-old Hamilton, and the cornerback turned around and posed at Cousins as he trotted into the end zone.
Cornerback Clark Phillips III picked off Cousins later in the afternoon on a pass intended for wide receiver Darnell Mooney. Both the interceptions came from the second-team defense.
Interceptions aside, Cousins was mostly on target to start the week. He finished the session 13 of 16 with the two turnovers and an incompletion on a drop by Mooney.
The first-team defense also got in the fun. Safety Richie Grant had a fumble recovery after wide receiver OJ Hiliare had a pass from Michael Penix Jr. knocked out of his grasp.
More notes on a day punctuated by defense below:
Notes and observations
Roll call: Safeties DeMarcco Hellams and Dane Cruikshank were absent from Monday's session. Outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter was also absent. Inside linebacker Nate Landman missed a second straight practice, while fellow linebacker Kaden Elliss left practice early and did not participate in team work.
1-on-1 drills: As has often been the case on Mondays, the Falcons dedicated a practice period to 1-on-1 drills in the red zone.
Here's what I saw from my vantage point:
- Safety Jessie Bates III broke up a pass intended for tight end Kyle Pitts
- Wide receiver Casey Washington caught a pass over safety Lukas Denis
- cornerback Clark Phillips III drew a pass interference on a play with receiver KhaDarel Hodge
- Wide receiver OJ Hilare caught a pass against cornerback Jayden Price
- Cornerback Natrone Brooks (coming off an impressive preseason game) broke up a pass against receiver Chris Blair (who also had a good performance against the Ravens)
- Wide receiver Dylan Drummond had a reception against cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr.
Rookie reps: With Elliss and Landman not participating, rookie JD Bertrand slid in alongside Troy Andersen with the starting group. Bertrand fared quite well and even had an impressive read on a Bijan Robinson run when the starters competed against each other during 11-on-11 work.
Washington also got some first-team snaps at receiver. He didn't have a catch while working with Cousins, but he did have a diving reception on a deep pass from Penix.
The new additions: The Falcons' new additions, safety Justin Simmons and outside linebacker Matthew Judon were present and accounted for in their first practice with the team. Head coach Raheem Morris noted at the start of the day that both would be full-go in individual work and ramp up their involvement as the team continues to build toward Week 1.
Judon got a couple of 11-on-11 reps. This practice, in particular, was hard to see with the offense going in the opposite direction of the media's vantage point from the farther field, but Judon was easy to spot with his red sleeves. Both Judon and Simmons also spent time doing individual work with coaches while the rest of the team ran 11-on-11 or conditioning drills.
Secret weapon(s)?: Tight end Charlie Woerner hasn't had a touchdown in his NFL career, but he's scored at least two this training camp. The first was a difficult one with Bates all over him in a practice last week, and Monday's was easier but still an impressive catch.
Ross Dwelley, fellow tight end and former San Francisco 49er, also got some run with the starters and caught a pass from Cousins. Watch out for these two as possible secret weapons for Cousins and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson this season.
Quarterback depth: Morris echoed Monday what he said after the Falcons' second preseason game — that he has seen everything he needs to see out of Penix. The rookie backup quarterback did not suit up against the Baltimore Ravens and won't again at home versus Jacksonville in the team's final preseason game.
Taylor Heinicke and John Paddock played behind center in Baltimore. The two quarterbacks also split reps at the end of Monday's practice. Heinicke went 4 of 4 and Paddock was 0 for 2.
Music Monday: In honor of Cousins' birthday the coaching operations staff put together a special playlist for the quarterback. It was a lot of early 2000s emo-punk. I said to multiple media members as we watched practice, "I feel like I'm in an episode of One Tree Hill."
If you're not familiar with that musical description, here’s the birthday playlist to check out for yourself.
Paddock didn't initially realize that the vibe of the day was a tribute to Cousins, but it later clicked because Cousins said during practice, "This is the music we need in lifts more."
