Raheem Morris undecided on Falcons starters playing in preseason

I have no idea what there is even to think about. There is no reason the Falcons shouldn’t play their starters unless they’re dealing with an injury.

Let’s start on the offensive side of the ball. Michael Penix Jr. is effectively a rookie still. Getting him live reps with Ryan Nuezil, his pass catchers, and Zac Robinson is critical to a quick start.

There’s no reason that Penix shouldn’t be taking reps in the preseason unless he’s dealing with an injury himself or one of the five expected starters upfront is dealing with something of their own.

Defensively, Jeff Ulbrich is back in Atlanta, and virtually everyone on that side of the ball is learning a new system. The Falcons are expected to have four rookies contribute in significant roles, and every single rep helps.

The Falcons begin the season hosting the defending NFC South champion Buccaneers. In their first five weeks, the team will draw four playoff teams from a year ago. Hitting the ground running is paramount if the club is to end its postseason drought.

Now, let’s address the counterargument — injuries. This is a fair stance to have. Here’s my rebuttal. That’s a fine approach for a team like the Eagles, Bills, and Ravens, but the Falcons don’t have the luxury of team chemistry. There’s no continuity anywhere on this team.

Again, unless a player is dealing with an injury, they should be on the field in some capacity during the preseason. This is football, guys are going to get hurt. That’s explainable, being unprepared is unacceptable.