Here some observations from the early portion of the Falcons’ first practice on Thursday:

1. Julio Jones looked very comfortable moving around and making catches.

2. Running back Devonta Freeman needed some extra stretching from the training staff.

3. First-round draft pick Takkarist McKinley, who’s coming back from shoulder surgery, appeared powerful while working through the individual bag drills.

4. Fans were lined up at 7:30 a.m., an hour before the gates opened up. It appears to be a large crowd on the hill overlooking the practice fields.

5. Coach Dan Quinn said that right tackle Ryan Schraeder, wide receiver Mohamed Sanu, strong safety Keanu Neal, free safety Ricardo Allen and linebacker Deion Jones had the best offseasons during his appearance on 92.9 The Game before practice.

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Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson was one of the few bright spots for the Falcons in a 27-24 loss to the Jets, running for 142 yards and catching five passes for another 51. (Adam Hunger/AP)

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Inventor Lonnie Johnson stands with his Super Soaker water guns at JTEC Energy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. Johnson, a former NASA engineer, is currently working on a new energy technology through his company’s JTEC device that turns thermal heat into usable energy. (Natrice Miller/AJC)