FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – If the Falcons accomplish their goal of winning the NFC South in 2024 and returning to the postseason for the first time since the 2017 season, we may very well look back at this past week as the primary catalyst.
The week started on a low note in the aftermath of a trip to Miami that proved costly for the team's overall health. A quite competitive session on Wednesday that went longer than expected seemed to refocus the team midweek. Then, the front office closed things out with two key acquisitions that have galvanized the fan base with less than a month to go until the start of the regular season.
That is where we will start this week's off-day recap.
Defensive personnel questions answered
Even after acquiring quarterback Kirk Cousins, and certainly after drafting Michael Penix Jr., the Falcons faced questions about their defensive personnel, specifically in the secondary and at the edge position. It appeared Atlanta was ready to trust in its ability to develop and acquire players it felt were capable of elevated play.
That collection of players in camp looked promising, but the rotation on the front and back end took a hit in Miami when rookie outside linebacker Bralen Trice and second-year safety DeMarcco Hellams both sustained injuries. Trice will miss his entire first season due to a knee injury, while Hellams will be out for a "significant" amount of time after hurting his ankle, per head coach Raheem Morris. Both losses are big blows for the depth of this defense.
But the Falcons had something in the works that proved to be exactly what the team needed. On Wednesday evening, it was first reported that Atlanta agreed to terms to send a 2025 third-round pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for Pro Bowl pass rusher Matthew Judon, pending a physical. Then, on Sunday afternoon, the Falcons officially signed Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons.
In less than 24 hours, Atlanta reportedly added two players with a combined six Pro Bowls between them at two crucial areas of need. On top of that, Judon and Simmons are excellent fits for what the Falcons seem set to do defensively, and they now make this unit a bit more veteran-laden than one might expect. Front to back, the Falcons have a good bit of experience, now.
That will matter with a schedule that requires the Falcons to find their footing quickly. If they do, these moves will very likely have played a part.
Who has the inside track at the 53?
Given how many players the Falcons chose to withhold from the action in their second preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, they may already have a good sense for how their 53-man roster will look. Even if that is the case, the decisions for whatever roster spots do remain open are going to be very difficult to choose.
There are some really deep positions for Atlanta to sort through with the Aug. 27 cutdown deadline quickly approaching. Tori McElhaney provided her early thoughts on how the 53-man roster might shake out last Tuesday, and she’s got a few surprises on the list. She then joined me on Falcons Final Whistle to defend her selections under intense scrutiny.
This was the first of three 53-man roster predictions that will run prior to the Aug. 27 deadline. The second prediction will be published on Tuesday morning, and you can bet it'll look a little different with the addition of Judon and Simmons.
Michael Penix Jr. has shown enough
Raheem Morris hasn't necessarily been shy in sharing his belief that he dislikes having to play preseason games due to the risk of injury. Part of Morris' excitement ahead of joint practices in Miami was the opportunity to get live competition while also being able to "mitigate" the risk of injury to a higher degree than in a preseason game. The injuries still happened, and Morris took those to heart.
"I definitely take full responsibility for that when our guys get hurt in preseason games," he said prior to the team's first practice after Miami. "And that definitely doesn't change anything. It just kind of further tells how I feel about the preseason when it comes to those type of things when you can't mitigate injury."
Therefore, it wasn't a surprise to see none of the offensive or defensive starters on the field Saturday afternoon in Baltimore. It did raise a few eyebrows, however, when Penix wasn't out there for the first offensive snap. Morris said after the game that the staff is comfortable enough with what they’ve seen from Penix in practices and his first preseason game. He finished that debut 9-of-16 passing for 104 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
Penix may be the Falcons' chosen successor to Cousins at some point down the road, but he's shown enough to already be considered a quality backup. That's a valuable role in the NFL, and one Morris doesn't want to risk unnecessarily.
Drake London and A.J. Terrell stand out
The middle part of Atlanta's week was defined by two core players for the 2024 season. On Wednesday, London stole the show and led an impressive offensive outburst. He was the top choice for Cousins, catching six of his seven targets in the practice, including more than a few that would have likely been touchdowns in live action.
London has been fiery in practice, making spectacular plays and letting the defense know about it. When he doesn't come through with the catch, he lets himself hear it, too. On the other side, Terrell has a calm and confident demeanor. He's rarely out of position and looks comfortable deploying every move in his repertoire.
Terrell made his first splash play of camp the day the Falcons headed down to Miami. In the final session at the team’s practice facility, Terrell read a deep ball from Cousins to Darnell Mooney and capitalized on a miscommunication between quarterback and receiver. He then helped the defense bounce back on Thursday after London's outburst. This time, Terrell intercepted Penix, jumping OJ Hiliare's route and snatching the ball away.
London and Terrell will be critical players for Atlanta this fall, and they each appear to be locked in as the season nears.
Kevin King finding himself on field
We'll wrap it up with an awesome story that's unfolding this preseason. King, a former second-round pick, has spent the last two years away from the football field. One by choice after stepping away from the game, in part, to get fully healthy. When he attempted to return in 2023, King tore his Achilles.
He returned to live action for the first time in the Falcons' first preseason game against the Miami Dolphins. King was a standout performer, intercepting a pass and making a handful of other solid plays. King is among the main contenders for a roster spot at cornerback, and he’s playing as if he’s back where he belongs.
