FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Jalon Walker will miss the 2026 season because of a torn ACL.
The Falcons verified the nature of the injury Wednesday, one day after Walker suffered the injury near the end of practice.
Falcons outside linebackers coach John Timu told reporters Wednesday that Walker’s season-ending injury is a “huge loss.”
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“When he comes in the room, we feel it,” Timu added.
The Falcons’ practice session ended Tuesday after Walker’s injury, which drew an emotional reaction from players as he was carted off the field.
“I know that he’s a strong individual,” quarterback Michael Penix Jr. reported Wednesday. “He’s going to get through it.”
Walker went down during an 11-on-11 play late in practice and was immediately attended to by trainers. The Atlanta players all took a knee on the field, seemingly indicating the potential severity of the injury. A cart came out and took Walker off the field. An aircast was not applied, but Walker had his head in his palm as he departed on the cart.
The Falcons drafted Walker with the No. 15 pick in 2025 out of the nearby University of Georgia. He had 5.5 sacks last season as a rookie, and the team was relying on him to take a leap in production this season.
Edge rusher is a bit of a vulnerable position for the Falcons heading into the season.
James Pearce Jr., also a first-round pick in 2025, was arrested on domestic violence charges back in February. Those charges will be dropped if he stays out of trouble for one year, but the NFL could suspend him for an undetermined period of time if the league considers what he did a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy.
Atlanta signed Samson Ebukam, Cameron Thomas and Azeez Ojulari for pass-rush depth. It also has 2024 third-round pick Bralen Trice returning after two seasons lost to back-to-back torn ACLs.
