Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Falcons Coach Raheem Morris Tabs Standouts vs. Dolphins
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Atlanta Falcons faced the Miami Dolphins in joint training camp practices Tuesday and Wednesday before kicking off the preseason Friday night inside Hard Rock Stadium.
With each meeting came an opportunity for Falcons coach Raheem Morris to evaluate his entire team — from the 90-man roster to his assistant coaches — and resulted in a week full of lessons learned for Atlanta’s first-year boss.
Prior to Wednesday’s joint practice, Morris was asked about standouts from the day before. He spoke highly of his team’s trench play, where pads popped and physicality was as high as it has been all summer.
“It was the first time I got a chance to see our big guys other than Grady [Jarrett] play in pads versus another team in this setting,” Morris said. “So, I learned a lot about everybody. You get a chance to really see D.O. [David Onyemata] come to life — it was nice to watch. It was good to see T.Q [Ta’Quon Graham].”
Jarrett, Onyemata and Graham sit atop Atlanta’s interior defensive line, but several others beneath them also impressed Morris — starting with veteran Kentavius Street and trickling into the rookie class, where second-round pick Ruke Orhorhoro, fourth-round selection Brandon Dorlus and sixth-round choice Zion Logue each made plays.
“That was really good to see, the physicality of the play, the temperament of even Street going out there, even though he’s a veteran type guy,” Morris said. “But it was nice to see those guys and those presence. And then obviously add in Ruke, and you get a chance to see Dorlus come to life and Zion and all those guys.”
Yet for as encouraged as Morris was by the defensive front, the Falcons’ offensive line was equally impressive.
Among Atlanta’s five starters, Morris was the interim head coach over three of them — left tackle Jake Matthews, right guard Chris Lindstrom and right tackle Kaleb McGary — in 2020. But everyone else in the room, from the other starters in left guard Matthew Bergeron and center Drew Dalman to the reserves, is new.
And the offensive line, with a blend of both new and old faces, stood out to Morris.
“Going back again and getting a chance to look at Chris Lindstrom and see how violent he plays when he comes off the ball,” Morris said. “And even Kaleb McGary and then watching Drew Dalman sit in there and [backup center Ryan] Neuzil.”
The group of blockers next to the offensive line also left a lasting impression, as Morris effused praised on tight ends Ross Dwelley and Charlie Woerner, who signed with the Falcons this spring after spending six and four years, respectively, with the San Francisco 49ers.
“Really on both sides of the ball was huge, particularly at tight end to watch the new tight ends that we brought in and watch those guys go to work,” Morris said. “Both of them — Dwelley and Charlie — seeing those guys play physical at the point of attack, it was fun.”
But that was practice. The game setting was another animal.
The Falcons’ pass rush failed to sack Dolphins quarterbacks Skylar Thompson and Mike White, but the two passers were hit seven times. Harrison had two, while Orhorhoro and Street led five players with one apiece.
Jarrett and Onyemata did not play, giving Morris an extended look at the rest of the room — and he saw a handful of players capitalize on the opportunity.
“You’re really excited about what some of those early guys did when it comes to Street and ‘TQ’ and Zach Harrison,” Morris said. “You’re able to get those guys in there and get those guys out and then you get some of your young guys and they have some extensive play like Dorlus and Ruke.
“That was a lot of fun to see those guys do those things, be able to rush the passers and do different things.”
Behind the defensive line in the middle of Atlanta’s defense is where linebackers J.D. Bertrand, Milo Eifler and Donavan Mutin spent Friday night.
Morris, asked postgame if he had any gut reactions about surprise players, said he wasn’t surprised because he sees the players each day and saw all of them get “good looks,” but the linebackers were the main group that impressed — especially Mutin.
“I will say those linebackers, inside linebackers, Mutin and those guys did a nice job of going out and really playing and playing physical, making some nice plays on defense and really stepping up a couple times there and giving us a chance to win the football game,” Morris said.
Mutin finished second on the team in tackles with six, and led all Falcons with five solo stops. Bertrand posted four tackles, tied with safety Micah Abernathy for third-best.
The Falcons did not play any of their three starting-caliber linebackers in Kaden Elliss, Nate Landman and Troy Andersen. Morris said Atlanta will be counting on that trio throughout the season ahead.
But on Friday night, the story was about those who played.
“You’ve got J.D. who you had really high hopes on, and at the end of the day, Mutin went out and played really well for us,” Morris said. “Those guys played well all across the board at the inside linebacker position. That’s fun to watch and that’s something good to see.”
In the secondary, Morris spoke highly of cornerback Kevin King, who intercepted a pass and broke up another in his first game since the 2021 season. But Morris also offered impromptu praise to another corner: Veteran nickel Antonio Hamilton.
“Pretty positive showing for him,” Morris said about King. “Went out and made a couple nice plays on the ball, got a nice pick. Pretty excited to see him go play. Got a chance to go see Kevin King really show some things and do some things really well for us.
“‘Ham’ had a nice night too also for us, other than the time he guessed that one out when he should have been a deep third, but other than that, he did a pretty good job. Pretty fired up about those guys.”
Morris and staff will get three chances — Monday, Wednesday and Thursday — to see their team practice this week before heading to Baltimore for a preseason bout with the Ravens.
The second preseason game is an important barometer to see which players took coaching points after the first game and ensuing practices, and it’s another key opportunity to prove oneself before cutdown day Aug. 27.
Atlanta and Baltimore are scheduled to play at noon Saturday inside M&T Bank Stadium.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Soccer fever took over The Battery Atlanta on Thursday as fans gathered outside Truist Park for a rare chance to see the FIFA World Cup trophy in person.
Children kicked soccer balls across the plaza while crowds counted down to the dramatic reveal of the iconic trophy, widely considered the most coveted prize in international sports.
The appearance marked the first public viewing of the FIFA World Cup trophy in Atlanta.
“It’s the real trophy,” said fan Abdulrahman Dwead. “Nobody is allowed to touch the actual trophy unless you won it or are the president of FIFA. So, me standing beside that cup, that’s an honor to me.”
The trophy stop carried extra significance because Atlanta is one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Local fans said the event gave them a deeper sense of excitement ahead of the tournament.
“It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” said Melissa Richardson. “It’s something that doesn’t happen often and to be here in this moment is very important to me.”
The trophy was displayed outside the ballpark before moving inside Monument Garden during Thursday night’s Braves game, allowing ticket holders another opportunity to see the historic prize.
Organizers said the event gave thousands of fans a rare chance to experience a piece of soccer history in Atlanta.
“I’m so happy that Atlanta will host eight games,” Dwead said. “I’ve been here in Atlanta for almost 14 years and I love Atlanta so much.”
Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.
The Atlanta Dream are undefeated heading into their home opener and still finding ways to improve their roster.
The Dream announced Wednesday the signing of forward Amy Okonkwo to a developmental contract. It’s the latest roster move for an Atlanta team that is 2-0 and gearing up to play Sunday against the defending champion, Las Vegas Aces.
Okonkwo brings an impressive résumé despite her young career.
She most recently attended training camp with the Dallas Wings ahead of the 2026 season and appeared in eight games with Dallas during the 2025 WNBA season, averaging 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game while shooting better than 60 percent from the field. She recorded a career-high 20 points against Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025, and made history as the first undrafted player since 2000 to average 10 or more points while shooting 60 percent or better through her first two WNBA games.
Her international résumé is equally impressive. Okonkwo has earned back-to-back FIBA Women’s AfroBasket MVP honors in 2023 and 2025 while helping Nigeria’s national team capture consecutive gold medals. Collegiately, she played at USC before finishing her career at TCU, where she earned 2018 Big 12 Sixth Player of the Year honors.
Okonkwo joins a 12-player roster that includes Naz Hillmon, Te-Hina Paopao, Jordin Canada, Angel Reese, Aaliyah Nye, Rhyne Howard, Madina Okot, Allisha Gray, Isobel Borlase, Indya Nivar, Sika Kone and Brionna Jones.
The signing caps a busy stretch of roster moves for Atlanta.
Earlier this month, the Dream claimed guard Aaliyah Nye off waivers after she was selected by the expansion Toronto Tempo in the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft and subsequently waived on May 7. Nye brings championship pedigree to Atlanta, having been a member of the 2025 WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces as a rookie, appearing in all 44 regular season games and finishing fourth among franchise rookies in made three-pointers with 37.
A guard out of the University of Alabama, Nye is one of the sharper shooters in the league. She finished her college career with 389 three-pointers across stops at Alabama and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, shooting 40.9 percent from beyond the arc. In her final season with the Crimson Tide, she earned Second Team All-SEC honors after averaging 15.2 points per game and setting the program’s single-season record with 111 made three-pointers.
To make room for Nye, the Dream waived guard Holly Winterburn, a move that came with an emotional cost. Winterburn, a Northampton, England native who went undrafted in 2025 before signing with Atlanta as a free agent, said she learned she had been cut just before boarding the bus for the team’s first game of the season on May 9.
“I thought my welcome to the W moment would happen on the court, not as I’m getting on the bus for my first ever game,” Winterburn wrote on Instagram. “But that’s the reality of this business and I will always be grateful for the opportunity Atlanta gave me. I’m built for this.”
Winterburn did not stay without a job for long. The Portland Fire signed her to a developmental contract shortly after her release.
After Tuesday’s road win in Dallas, the Dream return home Sunday to face the defending champion Las Vegas Aces at 1:30 p.m. at State Farm Arena.
Atlanta’s vibrant food scene offers diners so much more than comfort food classics (although top-notch versions of chicken, biscuits, and all the fixings can be found here, certainly), and leaving the city without tucking into an unforgettable meal should be criminal. But the trick is knowing where to go.
To make your stay in The A culinarily memorable, you need not only an up-to-date list of the city’s epicurean hotspots, but you also need to choose a home base that makes it easy to get to where you want to go. Choose your hotel poorly, and you might miss where fine dining finds industrial restoration in West Midtown, the continuous creative renewal in buildings and on menus in Old Fourth Ward, or the spirit and soulful flavors of Atlanta’s southside. That won’t be an issue with what’s below.
Old Fourth Ward
The walkable Old Fourth Ward neighborhood (O4W for short, which is located north of downtown Atlanta and southeast of Midtown) is home to many of the city’s top food spots. Find a morning pick-me-up from Chrome Yellow Trading Co., sweet treat from Little Tart bakery, or a decadent sandwich from Kinship Butcher & Sundry, where you can choose if you want your breakfast sausage sandwich served “double double,” or opt for a lunchier option like griddled pork belly with “drunken” mustard on brioche. Eastbound to downtown Decatur, Michelin-recommended and James-Beard-Foundation-recognized restaurants like Kimball House, home to some of metro Atlanta’s best oysters and craft cocktails, and The Deer & The Dove, where farm-to-table is performed with a fierce focus on flavor, are admired far beyond their suburban city’s limits.
O4W is also near historic Inman Park, where you can find exceptional pasta at BoccaLupo, steaks at Kevin Rathbun Steak, or dinner with premium cocktails at Ticonderoga Club at Krog Street Market.
Forth
Forth bills itself as part hotel, part local hangout and membership club, and its range of amenities and convenient location makes it a smart choice for your home base. It’s just off the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail and a five-minute walk to Ponce City Market, a food hall with stalls from a who’s-who of Atlanta’s culinary talent. (Don’t miss Botiwalla, where chef Meherwan Irani of the award-winning restaurant Chai Pani is slinging dishes inspired by Indian street food.)
Rooms at Forth mix mid-century style and modern function, you’ll find both heavy black telephones inspired by the old-school rotary dials and Bluetooth-enabled radio speakers in groovy wooden and brushed copper casing. The decor is otherwise understated, featuring metallics and earthtones, which allows the views they afford of the surrounding buildings and Beltline activity below to stay the star.
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