FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The team held its second to last open practice of AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp on Tuesday, and now all eyes are turned towards their first preseason game on Thursday.
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The Falcons will square off against the Denver Broncos in the NFL's annual Hall of Fame Game, and the extra preseason game provides the coaches a vital opportunity to get better evaluations on players.
But who exactly will coach Dan Quinn and his staff plan on paying a little extra attention to?
After practice, Quinn mentioned the running backs group and the group of returners as two units he's keen on seeing in a game. Quinn is also looking forward to watching the guys who have been with the team for about a year now, hoping to see a level of growth.
"Anybody really from the practice squad from last year," Quinn said. "What does it look like now, a whole year later? If you went back to their last preseason game, that was their last game they played. Last August, at some point."
Some of the notable players who would fall under that description are quarterback Kurt Benkert, wide receivers Christian Blake and Devin Gray, and offensive tackle Matt Gono.
Atlanta had a short, crisp practice on Tuesday and fine-tuned some reps of Thursday's game. The Falcons final open training camp practice will be Sunday Aug. 4 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The team wrapped up Tuesday's practice and are all set for their preseason opener. Here are the best snapshots from Day 8 of camp.
Atlanta Falcons offensive guard Jamon Brown #68 and offensive tackle Matt Gono #73 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Christian Blake #13 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones #11 and wide receiver Calvin Ridley #18 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Devin Gray #15 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Foye Oluokun #54, linebacker Deion Jones #45, outside linebacker De'Vondre Campbell #59, middle linebacker Duke Riley #42, and linebacker Bruce Carter #55 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Hill #23 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman #24 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Deadrin Senat #94 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kurt Benkert #6 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Stephone Anthony on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mohamed Sanu #12 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Dan Quinn, head coach, and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan #2 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Hill #23 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver C.J. Worton #7 and wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus #17 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Deadrin Senat #94 and the defensive line versus the offensive line on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Tre' Crawford #49 and Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Ra'Shede Hageman #90 work on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan #2 and wide receiver Julio Jones #11 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Kahlil Lewis #19 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mohamed Sanu #12 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Kenjon Barner #38 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Kendall Sheffield #20 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive guard Jamon Brown #68 and offensive tackle Matt Gono #73 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive guard Jamon Brown #68 against defensive tackle Ra'Shede Hageman #90 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Falcons players run onto the field on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Christian Blake #13 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Ryan Neal #40 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons strong safety Keanu Neal #22 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Falcons players run onto the field on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Deadrin Senat #94 and defensive tackle Jacob Tuioti-Mariner #79 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus #17 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons middle linebacker Duke Riley #42 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Christian Blake #13 runs on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Brandon Ireland on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Alex Gray #89 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Deion Jones #45 talks to linebacker Jermaine Grace #53 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Christian Blake #13 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips #46 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive guard John Wetzel #73 and the offensive line block on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons middle linebacker Duke Riley #42 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Kemal Ishmael #36 on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Christian Blake #13 makes a catch on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant #21, strong safety Keanu Neal #22 and the defensive backs leave the field on the eighth day of practice. (Photo by Kara Durrette/Atlanta Falcons)
