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Players of the Atlanta Falcons almost made it through a full week of training camp without a fight as they compete for spots on the final 53-man roster before Week 1.
As the temperatures soared under the hot sun, so did the tempers on the field. On Sunday, a skirmish broke out involving several players from both the offense and defense.
Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr., #27, quarterback Kirk Cousins, #18, and cornerback Lamar Jackson, #38, warm up during Minicamp at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground in Atlanta on June 11, 2025. (Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
Rookie edge rusher James Pearce Jr. got into a scuffle with offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron, resulting in some heated moments, according to reports. Other players like Leonard Floyd and Kaleb McGary were also involved in separate incidents that included Pearce.
Atlanta drafted Pearce with the No. 26 overall pick earlier this year, and he seems determined to make an impact right from the start.
“We’re trying to develop a culture, a style of play for sure, and part of that is the violence with which we play and aggression, the urgency and all that,” Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. “Today, at times, it went a little too far, and we’ve got to learn how to manage that.”
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Kaleb McGary, #76, on the field during training camp at IBM Performance Field in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on July 24, 2025. (Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
“You’re going to get agitated and, especially when you’re playing really good defense, the offense is going to get very agitated, so you’ve got to anticipate punches being thrown, things being said, people getting pushed. In those moments, you got to thrive and not retaliate and so it’s a good lesson to be learned today.”
Fans have been eager to see the passion and intensity from the players return since the Falcons’ Super Bowl appearance in 2016. Since then, the team has struggled to make the playoffs and achieve a winning record.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, #18, passes during training camp at IBM Performance Field in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on July 24, 2025. (Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
The Falcons finished last season with an 8-9 record, faltering after Kirk Cousins’ injury. The team ranked sixth in yards gained, 13th in points scored, and 23rd in yards and points allowed.
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