7 Exciting Takeaways as Jack Strand, Atlanta Falcons Dominate Indianapolis Colts

The Atlanta Falcons spent most of the last week in Indiana, including a pair of joint practices against the Indianapolis Colts. After nearly a week, the Falcons looked right at home on Saturday afternoon in their 34-6 win in Lucas Oil Stadium.

While preseason games aren't a predictor of future success, the Falcons looked like a more inspired, deeper unit than the one that was dominated by the Denver Broncos last year. Every phase of the team clicked against the Colts, including their much-maligned special teams.

With several position battles on the line, there were some impressive performances by players trying to make the 53-man roster, and maybe even earn a starting job.

Here are seven takeaways from the Falcons convincing win over the Colts

The QB Battle

Obviously, most of the attention has been on Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr., but with both of those players out on Saturday, it was an opportunity for Cooper Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand to shine.

They did.

Rush was an efficient 10/11 to start the game, and then Strand came in and continued his impressive training camp with a dominating performance on Saturday.

He started the game 8/8 for 155 yards and a touchdown, including dropping one in the bucket with a beautiful over-the-shoulder pass to Juice Wells for 36 yards. He took off for a 16-yard rushing touchdown on the next play to put the Falcons up 31-6.

"Spike it, Jack!"

Matt Ryan on the call for the TD 😂

FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/3KLcv5gxKJ
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 22, 2026

The Falcons only kept two quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster last season. There’s just no way that can place Strand on waivers and hope to get him to the practice squad. The 6’5 and 240-pound Strand would be hoovered up by another team immediately.

Strand has played well enough that if Tagovailoa and/or Penix struggle early, fans will be calling for the rookie. Heck, they might be doing that already.

Special Teams Improvement

The Falcons had arguably the worst special teams unit in the entire NFL last year. They addressed every level of the special teams with a new punter, kicker, return man, and coordinator. Those changes showed in the first sequences of the game. Atlanta kicked off and got held. The Colts started their drive on the 18.

The defense held, and Zachariah Branch fielded a 48-yard punt and returned it five yards to the Falcons’ 38. After a kickoff and a Colts’ punt, the Falcons found themselves winning the early field position battle. They cashed in with a 51-yard field goal from new kicker Nick Folk.

Folk was signed as a free agent in the offseason after the Falcons struggled with place kicking the last two seasons. He's been the NFL's most accurate kicker for three consecutive years. He hit another 50-yarder in the fourth quarter for good measure.

The ensuing kickoff looked like an instant replay. A Colts hold, and Indianapolis was on the wrong side of its 20-yard line.

Tyler Goodson took the Colts’ first kickoff at the four-yard line and returned it 37 yards to the 41. The Falcons were last in the NFL with 22.9 yards per return last season.

Atlanta didn’t punt until midway through the second quarter, but when they did, new punter Jake Bailey hit it 58 yards to the corner, and Darren Hall downed the ball on the Colts two.

The Falcons shined in every aspect of special teams after floundering last season.

CB C.J. Henderson Shines Early

A.J. Terrell, Avieon Terrell, and Mike Hughes may be the only cornerbacks guaranteed a spot on the roster. The battle for depth is tight, and Henderson had a good early showing after getting the start. He had tight coverage on the Colts’ first drive with a pass breakup on the left sideline, helping to force a punt.

On the Colts’ second drive, he made a quick open-field tackle on a third-and-five that forced a field goal instead of a first down.

Explosive Plays in the Run Game

With no Bijan or Brian Robinson, the Falcons aren’t exactly empty-handed at running back. Tyler Goodson and Nathan Carter are fighting for the No. 3 spot, and both have had moments in training camp.

Goodson has the marquee play so far with a 49-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The left side of the line, led by tackle Michael Jerrell and guard Kyle Hinton, cleared the first line of defense, and Goodson did the rest. That entire drive was his, with a long kickoff return and touchdown run.

49 yards to the CRIB 😮‍💨@tgood1110

FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/g2qiwB6zTr
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 22, 2026

The Wide Receiver Battle

The Falcons have four wide receivers who are veritable locks to make the team: Drake London, Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Branch. They could keep as many as six, depending on special teams, but the fifth wide receiver has clearly been Chris Blair this preseason.

Blair has been head and shoulders above the others vying for a spot on the 53-man roster. He led the team in receiving last week against the Broncos, and he had another solid showing on Saturday against the Colts, including an 18-yard reception over the middle from Rush as the first quarter was closing.

He also drew a pass interference in the end zone on 4th and three from the Colts’ six that set up Atlanta’s second touchdown.

The Local Kid is Making Noise at DT

Pro Football Focus recently ranked the Falcons' defensive line as the worst in the NFL. There’s not a headliner on this team, although Brandon Dorlus led all defensive tackles in the NFC with 8.5 sacks last year. But this unit is deep.

With Zach Harrison returning, Da’Shawn Hand and newcomer Maason Smith give the Falcons a good rotation and depth on the defensive line.

That said, Carlos Allen Jr. was the star in Indianapolis. He made noise during joint practices, and he was a menace on Saturday afternoon when he got his chance. A product of Douglass High School in Atlanta, Allen is roughly 6’1 and 300 pounds, and he is forcing his way into the conversation on the defensive line.

Potential Positional Upsets

Christian Harris was penciled in as a starter at linebacker next to Divine Deablo, but frankly, Kendal Daniels has looked more impressive. Daniels was limited during OTAs and minicamp, but he’s gotten a lot of work with the first team, and he started today over Harris. He's the biggest of the linebackers, and he has excellent instincts.

Incoming: @KendalDaniels__ 😤

FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/gmRzRq71Xl
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 22, 2026

Edge rusher Azeez Ojulari seemed like a lock to make the 53, but Keshawn Banks has outplayed him across the duration of training camp and looked significantly more productive rushing the Colts’ quarterback than Ojulari.

Banks had five sacks for the UFL’s Orlando Storm last season.

What's Next?

The Falcons are on the road next week against the Miami Dolphins on Friday. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said the first and third games will include the starters. Expect to see several players from today's action working in the with the first team.

The 53-man roster must be set next Sunday, and there are plenty of jobs still up for grabs.

Enjoy our content? Make FalconsOnSI a Preferred Source to see more stories from us on Google: https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=si.com

Add us as a preferred source on Google