Here are five things to know about the Falcons on Thursday:
1. Practice schedule. The Falcons hold practice at 2:20 p.m. today. Falcons coach Dan Quinn will speak to the media before practice at 1:30 p.m.
2. Stadium tour: Stadium officials expect more than 50,000 Falcons and Atlanta United season-ticket holders to attend an open house Saturday, and the stadium will hold its official opening with a Falcons-Arizona Cardinals exhibition game Aug. 26. The Falcons are set to tour the stadium next week.
3. Ryan on the offense. The record-breaking Falcons offense of 2016 pushed aside memories of the sputtering Falcons offense of 2015. Quarterback Matt Ryan followed what might have been his worst season with his first league MVP campaign. Coordinator Mike Shanahan went from oft-criticized play-caller to prime head-coach candidate. What's in store for 2017.
4. Falcons get RB help. The Falcons signed running back Jhurell Pressley on Wednesday after reaching an injury settlement with running back B.J. Daniels. Pressley spent time on the Falcons' practice squad last season. The Vikings signed him following the 2016 draft, and the Packers claimed him off waivers in September. Pressley has yet to play in an NFL game.
5. Hit the hole. The Falcons are looking for rookie running back Brian Hill to be more decisive against Pittsburgh. "We are one cut and vertical," Quinn said. "When we stutter on those or don't aggressively hit it . . . that's a real emphasis for Brian this week to make sure our tracks are correct."
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