Atlanta Falcons set to open the pre-season against Detroit Lions

We are a little over a month from having football back (38 days to be exact) when the Atlanta Falcons take on the Detroit Lions on August 12th starting the Atlanta season. It will be one of the most entertaining Atlanta Falcons pre-seasons we have seen in the last decade when you consider the potential jobs that will be up for grabs.

This season the pre-season won’t simply be a dress rehearsal reminding Falcons fans the season is nearing but games with storylines worth watching despite the fact the game itself is meaningless.

Learning from last season Arthur Smith is going to give his starters a lot more snaps during the pre-season giving us an inside look at who is winning starting jobs in camp. The pre-season will be a time for Atlanta Falcons fans to judge rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder and whether or not Atlanta made the right decision.

Ridder is currently the only quarterback on the roster aside from Marcus Mariota and should receive at least half of the playing time in the pre-season. Feleipe Franks is still on the Atlanta roster but is attempting to change positions. Franks should be given very few snaps for Atlanta as the team focuses on attempting to allow him to become a utility player.

The lack of Atlanta Falcons football has been slightly offset by the USFL who just wrapped their first season leaving football fans one month long summer month waiting.

Atlanta will kick off the football season against the Detroit Lions followed by the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars to wrap up the pre-season. Outside of the aforementioned quarterbacks, Atlanta will be getting their first look at rookie receiver Drake London and new off-season additions Bryan Edwards and Casey Hayward. Setting Atlanta up for a pre-season fans have reason to look forward to despite the meaningless result. August 12th cannot get here soon enough.