Falcons – Colts preseason recap: An unreserved beatdown from the reserves

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 22: Tyler Goodson #25 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates after a touchdown during the preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Carter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

A game like this during the regular season would feed the Falcons fanbase for a long time. We'd crow over the result, allow it to dampen any roller coaster stretches that followed, and bring it up unprompted years later. Because it's a preseason game, the glow won't last nearly as long, but it still made for a very fine Saturday afternoon.

After spirited joint practices earlier in the week where the Falcons starters turned in mixed efforts, the backups took the field and dominated Indianapolis start to finish. You need to stack the caveats like so many delicious pancakes-the Colts were running a vanilla game plan of their own, their quarterback situation is not superb, etc.-but it's not like the Falcons were trotting out starters against backups or employing any exotic twists. This was just roster hopefuls against roster hopefuls, and our roster hopefuls kicked ass.

You knew it was going to be a pretty good day when the Falcons kept forcing the Colts into costly mistakes and holds, and when they clamped down hard on Indy's bruising runners. You knew it was going to be a great day when Cooper Rush came out firing and Jack Strand kept the good times rolling, and you knew it was going to be a superb day when Tyler Goodson rumbled for a 49 yard touchdown. It was so lopsided and so relatively free of huge problems and mistakes that the Ugly section of this article is going to be as short as it's been in a long while, especially because I'm not keen to find tiny flaws in a preseason effort.

It was also an excellent game for players the coaching staff wanted to see more from, ranging from Vinny Anthony to Strand to Kendal Daniels to Cam Sample. The staff will find more flaws and areas of improvement than we did from Saturday's fesitivites, but I have to imagine they're pleased by the caliber of performances and the way Mike Jerrell, Ethan Onianwa, Rush, and the pass rush bounced back after a rough effort against Denver. The full return of Michael Penix Jr. to practice will add more intrigue to the final week of preseason preparation, but there's already plenty here to consider.

This game does not-and should not-remove any and all concerns about how the starters looked against a game Broncos squad, or convince us that this team's depth is light years ahead of where it was in the past. But it should absolutely makes us feel a bit better about the reserves and the state of the roster battles that are winding down right now, and after Week 2 of preseason, that's good enough for me. Especially if it translates to better in-season outcomes when the team inevitably has to rely on that depth.

On to the full recap.

The Good

• This was a much better day for Cooper Rush, who had one weird skipped pass over the middle to Zachariah Branch early on but otherwise commanded the offense well, threw the ball effectively, and generally looked more like the guy who has been a useful NFL quarterback when called upon throughout his career. He needed this kind of effort to fend off Jack Strand, but...
• Jack Strand also looked terrific. He led two three scoring drives after entering the game, going 6 for his first 6 passes for 108 yards, including a deep ball to Antwane Wells Jr. and a touchdown to Cash Jones and finishing with over 200 yards on the day. He also cashed in his own touchdown from 20 yards on a scramble where he looked fast and decisive. It's obvious that while Strand is not ready for primetime, he has enough talent to be a QB3 in this league easily, especially when you look around at who other teams are auditioning for their third spot. The Falcons have a tough decision ahead with two quarterbacks with injury issues atop the depth chart and the question of Rush's experience versus Strand's potential to answer, given that Strand may very well get snapped up off the team's practice squad.
• Tyler Goodson just looks really good out there. Another couple of decisive runs on the first drive to turn nothing plays into solid gains made for a solid start, but then he uncorked a great kick return late in the first quarter, picking up 37 yards. He followed that up with the best play of preseason, rumbling for 49 yards after getting some nice blocks from Mike Jerrell and company and taking it to the house for a touchdown. The fact that he can do everything well and is running effectively in preseason should be enough to get him the RB3 job, and I feel great about this running back depth chart if he is.
• A word for Nate Carter, though, who looked better running the ball in this one and had a truly impressive play on third down in the second quarter where he stayed on his feet despite a huge fit near the goal line and powered his way in for a touchdown. Carter's almost certainly making this practice squad unless someone the Falcons really like shakes loose at cutdown.
• Cash Jones also had a nice day on the ground, picking up multiple nine yard runs and reeling in a touchdown catch and a pair of nice fourth quarter catch and runs in the process. He exceeded that through the air, with a team-leading 4 catches (tied with Vinny Anthony), 62 yards, and a touchdown, I think Jones is probably ticketed for the practice squad, but he's been good enough and has enough special teams value to push for a final roster spot. Man, the Falcons have a good problem at running back.
• There were some really promising performances from other pass catchers, as well. Anthony looked fluid and fast with the ball in his hands as a returner and receiver, Chris Blair continues to shine for what seems like the fifth straight preseason, both Beaux Collins and Antwane Wells Jr. made impressive plays, and tight ends Jack Velling and Nick Muse showed good hands. The team's extreme depth issues at receiver in particular have hurt the Falcons in years past, but I'm cautiously optimistic of the options they have on hand between Anthony, Blair, and Wells.
• As you might guess by all the praise for playmakers, the offensive line was far better this week. I thought Mike Jerrell and Ethan Onianwa held their own, James Brockermeyer looked much less up-and-down than in his first professional action. A rewatch is a must to get a better sense of who truly stood out, but the Falcons only took one sack on the day and averaged over 4 yards per carry with deep reserves. The line earned its kudos.
• Carlos Allen Jr. has made the most of his opportunities this week, with big plays during joint practices and a near-sack on third down on Riley Leonard to stop a drive and make Indy settle for a field goal late in the first quarter.
• Chris Williams did not arrive in Atlanta with a reputation as a plus run defender, but there was some evident promise as a pass rusher to work with. Through two weeks of preseason, Williams has gotten close a handful of times and picked up a sack on Saturday, which can only help him cement a role up front in a rotation Nate Ollie wants constantly getting after the quarterback.
• I continue to be impressed by Kendal Daniels, who has shown the physicality promised by his college career and really good instincts to this point. Once again, he wore the green dot for the backup defense and was flying all over the field, with a highlight coming in the first quarter when he sniffed out a screen for zero gain. I remain convinced he's either going to start or at least be heavily involved in Week 1.
• Both Christian Harris and Jammie Robinson had great pass breakups in this one, with Harris picking up a particularly emphatic swat that could've been an interception against Anthony Richardson late in this one.
• Nick Folk made his 51 yard field goal try in the first quarter look incredibly easy, drilling it right down the middle, and hit all his other kicks with minimal fuss despite a penalty that backed up an extra point try 15 yards. The Falcons have had too many kicking woes over the past two years to do anything but appreciate that.
• I thought Anthony, Jones, and Goodson all looking good on kick returns and Dylan Drummond showing well on punt returns gave Atlanta plenty to think about. Zachariah Branch is almost certainly in the driver's seat for the punt returner job, but having options is never a bad thing, and Drummond can punch a practice squad ticket based on his special teams value.
• Tori McElhaney with the Falcons posted this eye-popping stat, which makes it clear just how dominant the Falcons defense was despite a lack of big plays. We'll take that level of fundamentally good defense in the regular season, please.

The Ugly

• Andrew Stueber getting hit with two holding calls on the same drive is not what he needed in a battle for a backup role at guard that's fairly crowded. I don't think he had a bad game, but that was a bad, bad drive.
• That's about it. We could pick at a few things but I see no real need to given the end result. Let's just enjoy this one?

The WrapupGame MVP

Tyler Goodson. He's been a monster this preseason and the combination of the 37 yard return and 49 yard has more than earned it for him. Rush and Strand also deserve honorable mentions.

One Takeaway

The Falcons badly needed to bounce back after looking completely overmatched last week, and going from that to dominant is pretty promising. Now they just need to show it's not a fluke in the weeks ahead.

Next Week

The likely-to-be-hapless Miami Dolphins, 0-2 and overmatched thus far in preseason action, are the final tune-up for the starters and test for the reserves. Let's see how it goes.

Final Word

Muchbetter.