The Atlanta Falcons kick off training camp Thursday, with players arriving Wednesday. This is a time of anticipation for fans who have been waiting nearly eight months to see any sort of real NFL action again, and an opportunity for many a would-be Falcon, would-be star, and maybe especially would-be practice squad player to prove themselves.
This Falcons team is settled in many key spots—every offensive starter, your top two cornerbacks, all-world starting safety, the invaluable punter—but much is up for grabs on defense and even on special teams. Here’s a look at eight of the battles ahead, in rough but not strictly descending order of importance.