In Week 1 of the preseason, nothing could go right for the Falcons in a 27-7 loss to the Broncos, but Week 2 brought about a much more encouraging script.

Tyler Goodson Earns Roster Spot

The party really got going when Tyler Goodson busted one outside and took it 49 yards to the house for the first touchdown of the afternoon, giving the Falcons a 10-3 lead. He’d finish with 59 yards on six carries, adding one catch for four yards.

Running back is one place on the roster where it’s very difficult for fringe guys to make an impact. Bijan Robinson will likely touch the ball around 30 times a game, and Brian Robinson Jr. is a very competent backup who’ll handle the rest of the load. But depth is always important, and Goodson has proven throughout training camp and the preseason that he’s a football player who belongs on the Falcons’ final 53-man roster.

The Jack Strand Game

The Falcons brought in Cooper Rush for depth purposes due to Michael Penix Jr.’s injury, and Rush had a decent game, going 10-of-11 for 86 yards. But the star of the show was Jack Strand. The undrafted rookie completed 12 of his 17 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown. He also added another score on the ground, carrying the ball nine times for 22 yards.

The Falcons quarterback competition got real after the game, when it was announced Penix has been fully cleared for 11-on-11 work. With him and Tua in the fold, quarterback is another position where it’s tough for someone to crack the roster. But Strand has been a bright spot in both preseason games. I expect the Falcons try to keep him around, whether that means carrying three quarterbacks or stashing him on the practice squad.

Defensive Depth

A lot of the reports out of joint practices had good things to say about the Falcons defense, and that showed up in the game on Saturday.

C.J. Henderson had some really impressive plays at corner early on, as the former ninth overall pick looks like he’s cemented himself as quality depth at the position.

Undrafted free agent Carlos Allen Jr. had a huge week, impressing at joint practices and coming up with a couple of big run stuffs in the first half. That’ll go a long way as he makes his case for a roster spot on the interior defensive line — a weak spot for the Falcons a year ago.

But the most fun player to watch on defense over the first two preseason games has been rookie fourth-round linebacker Kendal Daniels. He just flies around the field, and with the way things are trending, there’s a chance he could start alongside Divine Deablo. At the very least, he’ll immediately have an impact on special teams. You’ll be seeing Daniels a lot come Sundays.

Fun Guy Kevin Stefanski?

Kevin Stefanski isn’t the kind of guy who’s going to win over the fan base with his press conferences — quite the opposite of his predecessor Raheem Morris, who could sell ice to an Eskimo with his three-piece suits and million-dollar smile. But he showed a little personality when he channeled his inner Mark Richt and encouraged the team to rush the field after the first touchdown of the game.

Kevin Stefanski channeling Mark Richt and Knowshon Moreno!
The coach told Falcons players he was good with an excessive celebration penalty when they found the end zone … but just the one 🥳 pic.twitter.com/etS4aQhBWX

— Justin Felder (@Justin_FOX5) August 22, 2026

Of course, the stakes were a bit different when the Bulldogs did it a couple of decades ago in a highly contested rivalry game against the Gators. But the players loved it, and that’s the kind of small gesture that goes a long way in the locker room. Hopefully the vibes stay that high when the Falcons head to Pittsburgh in a few weeks.

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(Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire)