Atlanta Falcons
After much fanfare and several construction delays, $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta will open Aug. 26 when the Falcons host the Arizona Cardinals.
The Falcons will have a closed walk-through the day before to get acclimated to their new surroundings.
The state-of-the-art stadium will feature a 63,800-square-foot halo video that is 58 feet high.
The retractable roof will remain closed for the Falcons’ two home preseason games and their regular-season home opener.
Rookie watch: Team officials are buoyed with top-pick DE
Takkarist McKinley’s progress from offseason surgery on his right shoulder. He made his preseason debut Aug. 20, a week ahead of schedule. ... Adding McKinley, third-round LB Duke Riley and fifth-round DB Da
montae Kazee has made the Falcons even faster on defense. All have a chance of playing as rookies.
Noteworthy: RB Devonta Freeman was held out of the game after entering the league’s concussion protocol. Coach Dan
Quinn said Freeman’s issue was not long term. ... WR Julio Jones (coach’s decision) was held out for a second game. Quinn is being cautious with Jones, who’s coming off offseason foot surgery. ... The Falcons signed veteran OT
Austin Pasztor (6-7, 308) to a one-year contract. Pasztor, 26, is seen as a swing tackle. ... Quinn said DT Dontari Poe, who accounted for three TDs out of the backfield with the Kansas City Chiefs, might be used as a scoring weapon around the goal line. ... Quinn hasn’t named a starter at right guard between Ben Gar
land and Wes Schweitzer.