Week two of the NFL preseason kicked off Thursday evening with the Philadelphia Eagles winning a tight game over the New England Patriots in Foxborough. Next on deck, your Atlanta Falcons head to Baltimore for a tilt with the AFC North champion Ravens. At the time of writing, it is currently unknown which starters will participate in the scrimmage and for how long. Moreover, both squads have lengthy injury lists heading into the game. Once again, we'll have to dive down the depth chart and focus on the younger players and fringe roster candidates.
Arnold Ebiketie vs. Josh Jones and Roger Rosengarten
Expectations have been high for Arnold Ebiketie since Terry Fontenot traded up in the second round to select the Penn State product. Unfortunately, he's failed to consistently deliver. Against Miami, "AK" failed to set the edge in the run game and lost ground on several occasions. With the recent acquisition of Matthew Judon, Ebiketie needs a strong outing more than ever. He'll be facing backup Ravens tackles Josh Jones and Roger Rosengarten on Saturday afternoon. Jones is average at best as a run blocker, and Rosengarten is an untested rookie. AK has a strong opportunity in front of him to take advantage of these matchups and make a strong impression on the coaching staff.
Casey Washington vs. Jaylin Armour-Davis
Sixth-round receiver Casey Washington has garnered a decent amount of buzz during training camp. He's strung together several strong practices and was a bona fide target earner versus the Dolphins, gathering seven targets on only sixteen routes run. He should find himself facing off against former Alabama corner Jaylin Armour-Davis. Davis struggled as a rookie but has steadily crept up the depth chart. On paper, this looks to be a fairly even matchup. The key to Casey leveling up his game begins with refining the small nuances of his game. Creating separation with his route running, timing his jumps in contested catch situations, and turning those targets into production. If he aces this test, he could find himself creeping up the depth chart sooner rather than later. It should be noted that Baltimore's first-round selection, cornerback Nate Wiggins is injured and a question mark for this game, though if he plays that'd be an even more fascinating matchup for Washington.
Andrew Stueber vs. Baltimore's Edge Group
Andrew Stueber isn't a name known to many, but it's time to start paying attention. The former Michigan Wolverine spent time on the Patriot's practice squad last season before being signed by Atlanta. He shockingly played all 71 preseason snaps a week ago, and was the Falcon's highest-graded player according to PFF (69.3 grade). His solid outing was rewarded with a few first-team reps at right tackle over the past week. Stueber's not going to earn a starting job with the Falcons, but he's certainly looking like a player who could stick on the roster. He'll have a more difficult challenge against an ascending player in Tavius Robinson, Malik Harrison, and other depth pieces in a strong Baltimore edge room.
