Falcons rookie report: Jalon Walker still slowed; defensive backs still finding roles

New York Times

5 hours ago

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — After the Atlanta Falcons used their first four 2025 NFL Draft picks on defensive players, assistant general manager Kyle Smith said he believed the team had found four potential starters. With less than three weeks to go before the season opener, it doesn't look like the results are going to be quite that good. But they do seem to have found a quartet of significant contributors.
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Walker has missed more than half of the Falcons' padded practices due to separate hamstring and groin injuries. Coach Raheem Morris has characterized both injuries as minor, but Walker was held out of last week's preseason game and will not play in Friday night's preseason finale. He participated in limited 11-on-11 work during Wednesday's practice, making his first on-field appearance since suffering the groin injury in a joint practice against the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 13.
Still, Atlanta's coaches expect Walker to be ready — physically and mentally — to play against Tampa Bay on Sept. 7 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
'No doubt about it,' outside linebackers coach Jacquies Smith said. 'We have a plan to use him Week 1, and we'll be able to deploy that plan because he's doing a really good job of everything we've asked of him.'
Walker has proven during team meetings that he has a strong grasp of the defense despite his missed time, Smith said.
'The reps that he has been getting are very promising,' the coach said. 'We like what we have been seeing out of him. He's taking everything in stride and working at it the right way because he is a pro. He's been doing a really great job this camp.'
Neither Walker nor fellow first-round pick James Pearce Jr. is expected to start in Week 1, but the Falcons plan to use their pass rushers in 'waves,' Morris said, and Walker will get his turn. The team will determine during the week leading up to the Buccaneers game how many snaps Walker is capable of playing.
'If he got hot, how much could he do?' Morris said. 'It's kind of one of those things.'
Pearce has been the most impactful and active rookie on the field during practice. He has taken more than 500 practice snaps, more than any player on the team, but he won't play in Friday night's preseason finale.
'I feel good about where he is,' Jacquies Smith said.
Pearce has practiced well enough that he could supplant Leonard Floyd or Arnold Ebiketie in the starting lineup for Week 1, but it's more likely the Falcons will work him in early as part of their rotation plans. The University of Tennessee product has been involved in multiple practice fights with his teammates, and Falcons coaches have warned him that opponents will try to get under his skin once the season begins.
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'Teams are going to come in here and try to antagonize him,' Morris said.
If Pearce can manage his emotions, he could be the most impactful player in this draft class.
Watts is the quietest rookie in this group, but he has impressed Pearce.
'When I see him on film, I'm like, 'Yo, he is coming downhill trying to give somebody a headache,'' the edge rusher said.
More importantly, Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates has been impressed by his rookie position mate.
'X and I are very similar,' Bates said. 'He's kind of reserved, kind of calm, you can't really get him out of his shell too much, but that's good. As a safety, you have to be poised, you have to be calm, you have to be able to communicate when things get crazy. You never see him panic.'
Atlanta's coaches have been impressed with Watts' maturity and rotated him in with veteran free-agent acquisition Jordan Fuller on the first-team defense in practices, with Watts getting more reps as camp has continued.
''Watts is an adult,' is the easiest way for me to put it. He is serious,' Morris said. 'There is not a lot funny to him. He is very conscientious. He's got pro-like skill sets. I almost treat him, not on a Jessie Bates-level, but very close.'
Bowman was drafted with the hope he could supplant Dee Alford as the Falcons' starting nickel back, but that's not a given at this point. Still, the rookie's confidence remains high.
'I want to make a statement Sept. 7 and go out there and make a name for myself,' Bowman said. 'I am going to make it undoubtedly known to myself and my peers where No. 33 stands. My presence is felt when I'm out there. When I'm out there, something is different.'
Bowman has taken limited first-team nickel snaps during practice, and Alford remains the regular at the spot in the practice lineup. With cornerback Clark Phillips III out with a rib injury, the Falcons will also give cornerback Natrone Brooks some nickel snaps in Friday's preseason game.
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'Billy Bowman has been awesome,' Morris said. 'He's made a bunch of significant plays. He has definitely formed a role … to go out there and give us significant minutes.'
Nelson has played extensively at right tackle in both of Atlanta's preseason games, and the Falcons have been pleased with his development, although he is not expected to play much this season.
'Jack Nelson really has the up arrow on him,' Morris said. 'He's getting better and better every single day.'
Nelson did move further up the tackle depth chart this week due to injuries suffered by Kaleb McGary and Storm Norton, but the Falcons still are expected to turn to Elijah Wilkinson or Brandon Parker before Nelson.
Atlanta signed 11 rookie free agents after the draft, and it's doubtful any of them will make the 53-man roster. The two most likely to make the practice squad appear to be cornerback Cobee Bryant and offensive lineman Joshua Gray, who has played both guard spots and center during practices.
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