Jalon Walker Injury News & Updates

Walker (quadriceps) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Walker is having his quad injury evaluated by medical staff to determine whether he can return to Sunday's game. Arnold Ebiketie and James Pearce are in line for more snaps at the edge rusher position for as long as Walker is out of the game.

Walker recorded 1.0 sacks in Sunday's 24-10 win over the Saints.

Walker didn't have a particularly high level of production in Week 12, but he did make the most of his only takedown, sacking Tyler Shough in the third quarter. The linebacker was on the field for 51 percent of the defensive snaps, his lowest percentage since Week 4, and that might explain the dip in production. On the year, Walker has now compiled 30 total tackles (21 solo), including 5.0 sacks, while also adding a pass defensed, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery over nine games.

Walker recorded four tackles (four solo) during Sunday's 30-27 overtime loss versus the Panthers.

Walker logged 3.0 sacks over the two games prior to Sunday's contest, but he was blanked in that category in Week 11. He'll be hoping to get back in the sack column in a Week 12 matchup against the division-rival Saints.

Walker tallied six tackles (four solo), including 1.0 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in Atlanta's loss to Indianapolis on Sunday.

Walker recorded one of the team's seven sacks of Daniel Jones during the loss. The rookie first-round pick has now racked up 3.0 sacks across his last two outings and will look to keep up this high level of production during the team's Week 11 matchup versus the Panthers.

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.

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.

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.

Walker (groin) was a limited participant in Atlanta's practice Wednesday, Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports.

Walker managed to return to practice Wednesday after having missed the last two games due to a groin injury. If the rookie first-round pick is able to suit up for Sunday's matchup versus New England, he should return to his role as one of the team's starting outside linebackers.

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.

Walker (groin) did not participate in Thursday's practice.

Walker picked up a groin injury during the Falcons' Week 6 win over the Bills, which prevented him from playing against the 49ers in Week 7. He's missed the first two practices of the week, so he'll have to log at least a limited practice Friday to give himself a chance to play against Miami on Sunday. James Pearce, Leonard Floyd and Arnold Ebiketie would continue to see more snaps at outside linebacker if Walker is not cleared to play Week 8.

Walker (groin) didn't practice Wednesday, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

Walker didn't practice at all last week and missed Sunday's loss to San Francisco due to a groin injury. His DNP status to begin Week 8 prep isn't promising, but the rookie linebacker will have two more chances to return to practice this week. When healthy, Walker has been logging around half of the Falcons' defensive snaps while working in a rotational role.

Walker (groin) won't play Sunday against the 49ers, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.

Walker will sit out due to a groin injury he suffered in Monday's win over the Bills. The rookie first-round pick's next chance to take the field will come in Week 8 against the Dolphins. Walker has one sack among his 14 tackles (eight solo).

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.

Walker notched two tackles (one solo), including 1.0 sacks, during Sunday's 22-6 win over the Vikings.

The Falcons' first-round rookies, Walker and James Pearce, each recorded their first career sacks as their defense dominated J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings on primetime. Fellow rookies Billy Bowman and Xavier Watts also recorded their first career interceptions during what was likely a cathartic experience for Falcons fans after Atlanta's defensive deficiencies in recent seasons. Walker and Pearce continue to rotate with Arnold Ebiketie and Leonard Floyd.

Walker (groin) was not listed on Wednesday's injury report, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Walker had been dealing with a groin injury since mid-August, but his absence from Wednesday's injury report indicates that the rookie first-rounder is past the issue. Barring any setbacks, Walker is in line to make his NFL regular-season debut against the Buccaneers on Sunday, when he'll work in a pass-rush rotation with Leonard Flloyd, Arnold Ebiketie and James Pearce.

Head Coach Raheem Morris told reporters Monday that Walker (groin) is on track to play in Atlanta's Week 1 contest against the Buccaneers, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.

Walker, a 2025 first-round pick from Georgia, sustained a groin injury at Falcons' practice in mid-August, but it now appears he's recovered enough to make his NFL debut Sunday. During Walker's final collegiate season, he posted 60 total tackles, including 6.5 sacks, and two passes defended across 14 games. He's expected to serve as one of the Falcons' top rotational outside linebackers in Week 1.

Walker (groin) will not practice Monday, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.

"Going to operate with an abundance of caution," coach Raheem morris said Monday. "Not really worried about it. But you don't want it to linger." After playing 19 defensive snaps in the Falcons' preseason opener, Walker sat out last Friday's exhibition versus Tennessee.

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.

Walker (hamstring) will participate in practice Wednesday and is expected to play in the preseason opener against Detroit on Friday, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.

Walker missed time last week with a hamstring injury head coach Raheem Morris described as very minor, but is back at practice this week with sights set on his first NFL preseason game this Friday. The 21-year-old was drafted 15th overall by the Falcons in April after spending three years at Georgia. He is hoping to make a big impact on an Atlanta pass rush that was bottom 10 in sacks a year ago.

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.

Walker missed his third consecutive practice Thursday due to a hamstring injury, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.

"It's very minor," head coach Raheem Morris said Thursday. "The kid wants to go out there and practice and we won't let him." Morris continued to stress that it's "not a long term" issue for the No. 15 overall pick of the 2025 Draft. Walker and fellow first-round rookie James Pearce are expected to key Atlanta's pass rush alongside veteran Leonard Floyd this season.

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.