The Atlanta Falcons are fearing the worst with former first-round draft pick Jalon Walker.
The 22-year-old edge rusher is believed to have torn his ACL, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting. Walker will have an MRI to confirm the injury.
The University of Georgia product could not put any weight on his left leg as he was helped off the cart and taken to the locker room, The Associated Press reported.
Players were seen huddling as Walker was trated by trainers after the play.
Soon after, first-year Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski ended practice about 45 minutes early.
Along with James Pearce Jr., Walker was one of two edge rushers the Falcons drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He would go on to have 36 tackles and 5.5 sacks, while Pearce recorded 10.5 sacks as a rookie.
The Atlanta Falcons are fearing the worst with former first-round draft pick Jalon Walker
Walker attends an NBA between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Atlanta Hawks on March 23
If Walker is out for an extended period, as expected, backup outside linebackers Cameron Thomas, Samson Ebukam and Azeez Ojulari could compete for action.
The news follows what had been a hopeful day in Atlanta, where running back Bijan Robinson agreed to a three-year extension worth as much as $75 million, The Daily Mail has confirmed with his agent, Nicole Lynn.
Robinson’s deal is just the latest for the Falcons, who have also extended wide receiver Drake London (four years, $141m), tight end Kyle Pitts (three years, $54m) and offensive guard Matthew Bergeron (four years, $96m).
The news was certainly welcome in Atlanta. First-year Falcons head coach now has several offensive fixtures in place for the foreseeable future as he officiates a quarterback battle between the newly signed Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr., who is coming off a knee injury.
And Robinson’s extension is also good news for fantasy football enthusiasts as they weigh their options ahead of the 2026 draft season. With Robinson signed, he can now go through a full camp and should be better prepared for the upcoming campaign, regardless of who is under center.
The Atlanta Falcons ’ offseason spending spree continued Monday with news that the reigning NFC South champions have made Bijan Robinson the highest-paid running back in NFL history
Atlanta squeaked into the playoffs at 8-9 last season, despite ranking just 24th in points scored under fired coach Raheem Morris.
The 24-year-old Robinson had another splendid performance in 2025, rushing for 1,478 yards and seven touchdowns on 5.2 yards per carry. What’s more, the University of Texas product added another 820 yards and four touchdowns on 79 receptions in the passing game.
Prior to Robinson’s new deal, the Philadelphia Eagles ’ Saquon Barkley had been the NFL’s top-paid running back with an average annual salary of around $20 million.
But both Robinson’s and Barkley’s deals could soon be surpassed by the expected contract extension of Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
Like Robinson, Gibbs has been a ‘hold-in’ at Lions training camp as his representatives have worked out a long-term deal for the prized 24-year-old back.
Asked if Robinson’s deal would help his team’s negotiations with Gibbs, Lions head coach said it’s ‘certainly not going to hurt,’ according to Rapoport.
