Very tough injury news out of Atlanta Falcons training camp today, as multiple sources are reporting that the team fears star pass rusher Jalon Walker has torn his ACL in practice and would miss the entire 2026 season.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport wrote:
“#Falcons promising edge Jalon Walker is feared to have torn his ACL, per me and
@wyche89, a potential brutal injury for this defense. Walker will have an MRI to confirm the injury from practice today, which drew an emotional reaction from his team.”
After the injury, the Falcons immediately stopped their practice, and the news has spread quickly across the league.
ESPN’s Marc Raimondi wrote (about the feared ACL tear):
“Walker went down on an 11-on-11 play late in practice and was immediately attended to by trainers. Falcons 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 hand in his palm as he departed on the cart.”
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Jalon Walker Thought to Have Torn ACL
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 16: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers is pressured by Jalon Walker #11 of the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
In a shocking development, Jalon Walker may have to miss the 2026 season due to a torn ACL, which would be devastating to the Falcons’ pass rush.
Walker is coming off a very successful rookie campaign and was expected to take a leap this season in his development and become the key pass rusher for this Atlanta defense.
More on Jalon Walker’s Rookie Campaign
GettyAtlanta Falcons’ edge defender Jalon Walker arrives for the NFL match between Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on November 9, 2025. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP) (Photo by ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)
CBSSports’ RotoWire staff wrote:
“On what ended up being the last play of Tuesday’s session, Walker remained on the ground following a pass-rush rep and was carted off the field due to a left leg injury, per Josh Kendall of The Athletic. Walker will undergo tests to determine the nature of the issue, but if a torn ACL is confirmed, his second season would be over before it started. As a rookie first-rounder in 2025, he racked up 5.5 sacks among his 36 tackles in 15 regular-season games.”
The Falcons will certainly hope for the best, but the early reports are not promising regarding Jalon Walker, who was one of the few bright spots for the Falcons’ defense in 2025.
If Atlanta wants to break its playoff drought, it will have to find a way to replace Walker’s pass-rushing services.
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