FLOWERY BRANCH — Lamar Holmes was a spectator Friday as the Falcons started a three-day rookie camp for draftees and free agents. The offensive tackle, selected in the third round (91st overall) last month, wore a boot on his left foot.
The Falcons did not disclose the exact nature of the “minor issue” with the foot, but coach Mike Smith said the injury was discovered in a post-draft physical.
“It is more precautionary right now,” Smith said.
Holmes (6-foot-6, 333 pounds) will not take part in this weekend’s camp. Smith said he hoped he would be available when minicamp and organized team activities begin later in the month.
Holmes was selected out of Southern Mississippi and will be cross-trained at left and right tackle.
The Falcons have 46 players at minicamp.
The outside for Samuel
Falcons secondary coach Tim Lewis, eager to get Asante Samuel on the field, confirmed the cornerback will play on the outside. Lewis said Samuel, obtained in a pre-draft trade with the Eagles, has never before played inside in nickel coverage.
Cornerback Brent Grimes, who signed a franchise tag in the offseason, has also never played inside. That leaves the spot to Dunta Robinson, who played there with the Texans before joining the Falcons.
“We are going to take a look at him in there,” Lewis said of Robinson. “Of course, we’ll look at all the guys we had last year. We’ll see how that goes. The fact of the matter is, we have some talent back there.
“Right now, I’m going to say we have plenty enough guys to work in there. We’ll see how it goes, but I don’t want to tip our hand.”
Ewing under control
Brady Ewing isn’t about to pencil himself into the lineup.
The fullback was drafted in the fifth round (157th) out of Wisconsin, and the acquisition led the Falcons to release Pro Bowler Ovie Mughelli this week. By rule, the team needed to wait until Mughelli was recovered from the knee injury that cut short his season.
“Whenever you have to make decisions on your roster it’s always tough, especially with a guy who has contributed and helped us have the success that we’ve had,” Smith said of Mughelli. “It was an organizational decision, and we wish Ovie the best. We’ve got to move on. The roster is always changing. It’s never going to be the same.”
Smith said Ewing (5-11, 243) has shown the ability to catch the ball early in camp.
“I’m not really worrying about that situation,” Ewing said of replacing Mughelli. “I know that’s the NFL, and that’s the way the business works. I’m just going to do what I can control. Take care of the things I can do. Come out and work every day, getting in the playbook and coming with the right mindset and hopefully everything else will take care of itself.”
Mitchell fits
The Falcons drafted Charles Mitchell in the sixth round, and according to Lewis, the former Mississippi State safety looks good early on. Evaluation is not easy after just one day on the field with the defensive scheme.
“He is doing a good job,” Lewis said. “It’s a learning process for them. Learning the terminology is the toughest thing right now. If I could just evaluate him athletically, he looks like he fits in. We can find a way to use his talents.”
