The Atlanta Falcons were hit with a barrage of injuries last week in their preseason opener, and they responded by adding two Pro Bowlers to the roster in less than 24 hours. As the team prepares for its second preseason game Saturday afternoon in Baltimore, expectations for the 2024 regular season have been elevated once again.

In today's Falcons news recap, the team trades for New England Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon, former Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons signs in Atlanta, and fans get ready to watch rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. play against the Ravens after an impressive debut.

1. Falcons trade 3rd-round pick for Judon

The Falcons failed to trade up for UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu in the 2024 NFL draft and were outbid by the Chicago Bears for Montez Sweat at last year's trade deadline, but they finally got their man on Wednesday. Despite bidding against several teams, including the Bears, the team landed Patriots OLB Matthew Judon in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick. Judon was at a stalemate in New England and Atlanta needed an established pass rusher to become a serious playoff threat. Judon has 32 sacks in his last 38 games and posted a career-high 15.5 sacks for the Patriots in 2022.

2. Matthew Simmons signs 1-year, $8M contract

The Falcons hit again on Thursday by signing Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons to a one-year, $8 million contract less than 24 hours after completing the Judon trade. Simmons, 30, was the top free agent on the market and should be an upgrade over Richie Grant. He also helps the team replace second-year safety DeMarcco Hellams, who suffered an ankle injury in the preseason opener. Simmons has 30 career interceptions and should form one of the best safety duos in the NFL alongside Jessie Bates III.

3. Jakeem Grant lands on IR

New Falcons wide receiver Jakeem Grant can't seem to catch a break. The former Pro Bowl return man returned from back-to-back season-ending injuries to sign with Atlanta as a replacement for Rondale Moore. Less than a week after signing, Grant was quietly placed on the injured reserve list for a third consecutive season. It's unclear what happened to Grant, but the team may soon look to add another receiver for depth on offense.

4. Lindstrom reworks contract, frees up millions

Falcons Pro Bowl guard Chris Lindstrom helped the team secure two more Pro Bowlers this week. With just $3.5 million available prior to adding Judon and Simmons, the team needed to do something to free up some cap space. Atlanta converted $11.3 million of Lindstrom's $12.5 million base pay into a bonus on Thursday morning, creating just enough money to bring in Judon and Simmons. It was a no-brainer for the Falcons, who needed help at both the safety and outside linebacker positions.

5. Falcons vs. Ravens: Saturday at Noon

The Falcons take on the Baltimore Ravens at noon ET on Saturday. The team will likely be cautious with its starters, but the game offers another chance to watch Penix show what he can do. Last week, the rookie went 9-for-16 on pass attempts with 104 passing yards. Here's everything you need to watch, listen and stream Saturday's game below:

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons Recap: Judon trade, Simmons signing, Grant to IR