The Atlanta Falcons head to Lambeau Field on Thursday night seeking a faster offensive start, a cleaner defensive performance and a bigger role for tight end Kyle Pitts against the Green Bay Packers. Atlanta enters the short week after a disappointing loss to the Carolina Panthers, with injuries and uneven early-season production creating several major questions.
Pitts remains a priority for Atlanta
Pitts and fellow Falcons tight end Austin Hooper each have received four targets through two games, tying them for 34th among NFL tight ends. Pitts has caught only one pass for 15 yards despite signing a three-year, $54 million extension during the offseason.
The former No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has played roughly half of Atlanta’s offensive snaps, although head coach Kevin Stefanski noted that the club removed starters early in Week 2. Still, the staff acknowledged that Pitts has not been involved enough.
Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said the responsibility for unlocking Pitts falls on the coaching staff. Rees said Pitts has consistently worked hard, aligned properly and done what has been asked, but Atlanta must create more opportunities for his ability to affect games.
Stefanski said Pitts’ limited output does not reflect the plans Atlanta has for him. Pitts, meanwhile, said he remains focused on helping the offense rather than becoming frustrated after two weeks.
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Atlanta will try to increase Pitts’ impact against a Green Bay defense that has been effective against tight ends. The Packers rank 10th in passing expected points added allowed on throws to the position at minus-0.10.
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That figure is approximately three times better than Green Bay’s performance defending passes to wide receivers and running backs.
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Rees said the Packers have offered sharply different defensive approaches over their first two games under first-year coordinator Jonathan Gannon, leaving the Falcons prepared for looks they may not have specifically seen on tape.
Henderson gets his opportunity after Terrell injury
Cornerback A.J. Terrell has been placed on injured reserve and will miss at least four games, putting C.J. Henderson in line for a larger role. Henderson said he wants to make the most of a chance to show he belongs in the NFL after limited playing time in recent seasons.
Henderson and Terrell entered the league as first-round selections in 2020. Jacksonville selected Henderson ninth overall, while Atlanta chose Terrell eight selections later. Terrell has started 95 games for the Falcons, while Henderson’s career has included stops with the Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta.
Henderson has 34 career starts, including two with Atlanta last season, but has not held a regular starting job since his 2023 season in Carolina. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said the Falcons have unusual confidence in Henderson for a backup outside corner.
Ulbrich called Terrell the league’s top boundary cornerback and said losing a player of that caliber would normally require major coverage adjustments to protect the replacement. He said he does not feel that same concern when Henderson enters the lineup because Henderson has answered his opportunities.
Stefanski also said nickel corner Avieon Terrell could see additional snaps on the outside while his older brother is unavailable.
Short week offers Atlanta a reset
Safety Xavier Watts said the compressed schedule can help Atlanta move forward quickly from its Week 2 defeat. The Falcons cannot spend time dwelling on Carolina, he said, and there is no panic inside the building.
Stefanski, in his first season as Atlanta’s head coach, carries a 5-0 career record in Thursday night games. The Falcons will need a sharper defensive effort after Carolina averaged 5.7 yards per play.
Ulbrich said Atlanta’s defensive breakdowns came partly from players attempting to create game-changing plays while the offense struggled. He said trusted veterans made mistakes that were out of character, leading to failures in assignments and explosive plays for Carolina.
Green Bay enters Week 3 ranked 13th in yards per play at 5.3, but the Packers are 30th in offensive EPA at minus-19.08.
Quarterback and kicking decisions
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Tua Tagovailoa returned to practice Tuesday after an oblique injury suffered three days before he was scheduled to start Atlanta’s Week 1 game.
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Stefanski said Tagovailoa is moving in the right direction and could serve as Michael Penix Jr.’s backup against Green Bay.
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Stefanski praised Tagovailoa’s work during his recovery and described him as a supportive teammate.
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Kicker Nick Folk missed another field-goal attempt against Carolina, his third miss of the season.
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Folk’s misses have come from 54, 53 and 45 yards. His three misses already equal his combined total from the three seasons before he joined Atlanta this offseason.
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Special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman said the Falcons are not alarmed, but want Folk to refine his mechanics and regain his rhythm.
Atlanta has lost 101 points to missed kicks over the past five seasons, the most in the NFL. The Falcons will also face a Packers special teams unit featuring Skyy Moore, who leads the league with an 18.2-yard punt-return average.
Aukerman said Atlanta intends to make its presence felt against Green Bay rookie kicker Trey Smack.
Pressure matchup and ground-game concerns
The Falcons’ pass rush has produced pressure on 43.4 percent of opponent dropbacks, the third-best rate in the league through two weeks. Green Bay’s offensive line has allowed pressure on 43.5 percent of dropbacks, the NFL’s fourth-highest rate.
Atlanta also needs improvement in the running game. The Falcons rank 23rd in rushing success rate at 33.3 percent, and Stefanski said the offense’s overall production has not met expectations. He said he remains confident the coaching staff and players can build a more effective plan on the ground.
