Walker recorded five tackles (four solo), including 2.0 sacks, two tackles for loss and a pass defensed in Sunday's 24-23 loss to the Patriots.
Walker saw his role expand, logging a career-best 65 percent and 44 total defensive snaps. He responded with two sacks -- his first since Week 2 -- while also racking up five tackles. Walker could be in for a big second half of his rookie season, particularly if the Falcons continue to give him more responsibility.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jalon Walker: Returning to action Sunday
Rotowire
Walker (groin) is active for Sunday's game against the Patriots, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Walker missed the past two games due to a groin injury but will return to action Sunday after logging a trio of limited sessions during Week 9 prep. With Leonard Floyd (hamstring) also available, Walker may be in a rotation with Floyd, Arnold Ebiketie and fellow rookie James Pearce.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jalon Walker: Could return Sunday
Rotowire
Walker (groin) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Patriots, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
The 2025 first-round pick from Georgia missed Atlanta's last two games due to a groin injury, but following a week of limited practice sessions, he's got a chance to return Sunday. Walker has tallied 14 total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, through his first five NFL games. If he's active in Week 9, he'll likely operate as one of the Falcons' top edge rushers.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jalon Walker: Out for Week 8
Rotowire
Walker (groin) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Dolphins, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The 2025 first-round pick from Georgia is now in line to miss his second consecutive game due to a groin injury sustained in the Week 6 win over the Bills. Walker has appeared in five games this season, recording 14 total tackles, including 1.0 sacks. While he's sidelined Sunday, expect James Pearce to operate as the Falcons' lone reserve edge rusher.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jalon Walker: Deemed DNP for walkthrough
Rotowire
Walker (groin) was estimated as a non-participant in Wednesday's practice walkthrough, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Walker logged his usual allotment of snaps versus Buffalo on Monday Night Football, but he appears to have also picked up a groin injury. The Falcons held a walkthrough Wednesday, so more clarity about his status could come when the team returns to regular practices. Walker typically logs somewhere around a 50 percent defensive snap share for the Falcons.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jalon Walker: Dealing with groin issue
Rotowire
Walker tweaked his groin in practice Wednesday and didn't play in Friday's preseason loss to Tennessee, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
The Falcons expect Walker to return to practice next week, so he doesn't seem to be dealing with a long-term injury. The rookie first-round draft pick logged 19 defensive snaps in Atlanta's first preseason contest against Detroit and recorded one tackle. He's being counted on to provide a boost to the Falcons' pass rush, which tallied the second-fewest sacks in the league last year.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jalon Walker: Returning to practice this week
Rotowire
Walker (hamstring) will return to practice in the week leading up to Friday's preseason game against the Lions, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Walker didn't practice the previous week due to a hamstring injury that was described as "very minor" by head coach Raheem Morris. The latest update from Morris is even more optimistic, as the rookie first-round pick is expected to mix into team periods ahead of Atlanta's preseason opener, though it remains to be seen if Walker can muster full participation and whether he will be deemed healthy enough to play against Detroit.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jalon Walker: Chosen by Falcons 15th overall
Rotowire
The Falcons selected Walker in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 15th overall.
Walker (6-foot-1, 243 pounds) might be seen as a tweener between off-ball linebacker and a pass rusher from the edge, but the general belief is that the Georgia product can thrive in either or both capacities. Particularly with more unorthodox formations popping up across the league every year, there should be ways to get Walker in prime playmaking position even if it takes some novel approaches to get it done. It remains to be seen whether the Falcons cross-train Walker between the inside and outside linebacker positions, but that might be the plan given that they have some stopgap players at both positions as it is. Walker might therefore be at some risk of playing as a swing backup during his rookie year, but he should claim a three-down role in the Atlanta defense by 2026 at the latest.
