Jalon Walker Injury Update, Latest on Falcons LB's Knee After Being Carted Off at Training Camp

The Atlanta Falcons may have lost pass-rusher Jalon Walker before the 2026 season started.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Steve Wyche reported Tuesday that Walker "is feared to have torn his ACL" after he suffered an injury and was carted off during practice. He will undergo an MRI to confirm the setback, which Rapoport noted "drew an emotional reaction from his team."

The Falcons' official website described what happened and noted, "the second-year edge rusher took his normal place on the left side of Atlanta's defense during a full-team period and fired upfield once the ball was snapped. 

"When the play concluded, however, and the next one was set to begin, Walker remained on the ground. He was quickly attended to by trainers nearby and teammates gathered around him to take a knee."

Atlanta selected Walker from Georgia with the No. 15 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft, and he wasted little time establishing a role for himself in the defense.

The rookie finished with 36 tackles, 5.5 sacks, nine quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, one pass defended and one fumble recovery in 15 games and nine starts. It was a solid start to his career, and it was reasonable to expect him to make a second-year leap with some experience under his belt.

But now that leap may have to wait until the 2027 campaign.

The Falcons may need to rely more on the combination of Azeez Ojulari, Cameron Thomas and Samson Ebukam on the edge, especially early in the season.

They start the 2026 campaign on Sept. 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.