Which Three Players Stood Out on Day 3 of Minicamp?

 

In the final day of minicamp, some players had their opportunities to shine. T.J. Yates took over the first team offense as Matt Ryan rested for most of the day. The rookies were out on the field majority of the time. Some players are getting back in the swing of things, while other players look like they haven’t missed a beat. We will take a look at three players who stood out Thursday morning in the last day of minicamp.

 

1. Jalen Collins

 

With Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford being two proven cornerbacks, Jalen Collins has eyes scoped all over him. Collins was covering mainly the slot, so he will need to keep his play up in order to start opposite of Trufant. Collins seemed to be a target of the coaches, as the coaches seemed to be correcting him on multiple plays. The former LSU cornerback was the second-round pick in 2015, and it seems like the Falcons want to see who can start opposite of Trufant between Collins and Robert Alford. Alford hasn’t had the start that many had hoped for, so maybe some competition will up his play. It is only minicamp though, so look for things to heat up during Training Camp.

2. T.J. Yates

Even though he is not going to be the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, T.J. Yates had the opportunity to show he can be the true backup quarterback. With Matt Ryan barely practicing on Thursday morning, Yates was the man to guide the first-team offense throughout practice, having his ups and downs. He threw a perfect pass to Bernard Reedy on the sideline, who was covered perfectly by Jalen Collins. Yates is competing with Sean Renfree for the number-two spot behind Ryan, but it looks like Yates held his own in today’s practice.

3. Desmond Trufant

Falcon fans, Desmond Trufant is as good as advertised. Being the best defensive player could go to a player’s mind, but it seems like Trufant wants to get better and better. He led the defensive unit today, as he was the first to finish most drills and stayed upbeat. Trufant was rarely thrown at during practice, meaning he had his man locked down. He was also seen giving advice out to defensive backs such as Philip Adams, Ricardo Allen, as well as undrafted free agents. Trufant is one thing Atlanta fans can look forward to each and every day. He has the “it” factor not just in games, but even in practices.