Seven battles we'll be keeping a close eye on during joint practices

Will McFadden

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. The Tennessee Titans roll into town Tuesday for back-to-back joint practices against the Atlanta Falcons before the two teams square off in a preseason game Friday.

RELATED:Main joint practice storylines

These joint sessions may very well be the highlight of training camp, providing players and coaches valuable insight about how they stack up against another squad. As with any game between two teams, there are specific practice matchups we're anticipating that should get lead billing.

With the first practice set to begin later this morning, here are the marquee matchups I'm looking for between the Falcons and Titans.

A.J. Terrell vs. Calvin Ridley

Let's start with a reunion. Ridley was the Falcons' first-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, and Terrell was chosen by Atlanta in the first round just two years later. The two players had plenty of practice battles prior to Ridleygetting tradedto the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022, and they have established themselves as high-caliber players at their respective positions. Ridley's route-running has always been exemplary, and he's difficult to cover 1-on-1. I can't wait to see how Terrell handles his particular brand of agility.

Matthew Bergeron & Ryan Neuzil vs. Jeffrey Simmons

The Falcons have a lot of confidence in their offensive line, and for good reason. Even with Neuzil taking Drew Dalman's place at center, there's a lot of continuity in place and the group has a track record of success. Jeffrey Simmons poses a great challenge at this point in camp. He's most likely to go up against Bergeron or Neuzil during team periods, but it's possible he goes up against any lineman in individual drills. He's one of the best pass-rushing interior defenders with 26.5 sacks during the last four seasons, so whoever lines up across from him better be ready.

Falcons rookie defensive backs vs. Cam Ward

There's going to be a lot of attention paid to how first-round picks Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. look on the field, but that's a little too obvious for my tastes. Instead, I want to see how Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr. fare against the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Tennessee's rookie quarterbackplayed wellin his preseason debut, but Atlanta has high hopes its two young defenders will make an early impact in 2025. These two days should give us an early read on how those hopes are shaping up.

Divine Deablo vs. Chig Okonkwo

Deablo is one of my favorite additions of the offseason for Atlanta, and he's someone who has a lot of tools to succeed in this defense. "He has significant range," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. "He plays with great length. His vision and key and diagnosis in the box has looked absolutely outstanding in practice. We've been able to watch him in coverage. He does it easy. He moves easily. He is an elite mover."

As a former safety, one of Deablo's key responsibilities could very well be covering opposing tight ends. He'll have a crack at an ascending young player in Chig Okonkwo during the next two days. The 6-foot-3, 238-pound Okonkwo is a great athlete, but Deablo matches up well with him.

Zach Harrison vs. Kevin Zeitler

Of all the matchups listed here, this one could provide the most information about the upcoming season. It's going to be a pivotal one for Harrison, who is entering his third season and adapting to yet another defensive approach. In Atlanta's current defensive outfit, the plan for Harrison is to play a big end role where his combination of size and athleticism should make him a three-down factor. Zeitler is a 13-year veteran and one of the best guards in the NFL. After spending last season in Detroit, Zeitler is now in Tennessee on a one-year deal. It's hard to imagine a better sparring opponent for Harrison at this point in camp.

Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. vs. JC Latham

The addition of Zeitler wasn't the only change for Tennessee's offensive line this offseason. Second-year tackle JC Latham is switching over to right tackle, where he played in college at Alabama, after an up-and-down rookie season on the left side. Given his history in the SEC, this is going to be a familiar battle for Atlanta's first-year pass rushers. Walker and Pearce didn't line up against Latham on every rep in college, but it will still be fun to see three of the SEC's best prospects the last two years go at it.

Kaleb McGary vs. Arden Key

Flipping to the other side of the ball for Atlanta, this will be a good early test for McGary if and when he goes up against Key. As the blindside protector for Michael Penix Jr., McGary's pass protection will be in the spotlight this season. He improved that facet of his game last year, but Key, a former third-round pick, has also come along the last few seasons. Key isn't a top-tier edge rusher, but he's a good stylistic challenge for McGary.

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