Latest news with #JalonWalker
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Falcons Recap: Injury updates, roster moves, camp highlights
Recapping the top stories from Atlanta's fifth training camp practice The Atlanta Falcons completed their fifth training camp practice on Thursday afternoon and are just one week away from playing their first preseason game against the Detroit Lions. The Falcons can get a good look at the Lions tonight when Detroit takes on the Los Angeles Chargers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game to open the 2025 NFL preseason. Atlanta announced a roster transaction prior to Thursday's practice, plus head coach Raheem Morris gave an update on rookie Jalon Walker's injury. We examine that and more in today's Falcons recap. Roster News: Falcons sign safety, cut WR The Falcons kicked off the day by signing former UFL safety Henry Black and releasing wide receiver Makai Polk. The move comes one day after the team worked out former Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead. Raheem Morris said he felt the team needed more safety depth, and Black can provide that going forward. Injury updates on Jalon Walker, Xavier Watts Morris gave an update on Jalon Walker, who has missed the last two days of practice. Walker is dealing with a minor hamstring injury, and while he sat out of team drills on Thursday, the rookie took part in individual drills (see below). Third-round pick Xavier Wattts missed Thursday's practice, per ESPN's Marc Raimondi, but there was indication as to why. Madden 26 ratings: Rookies, WRs, RBs revealed More Madden NFL 26 ratings were revealed on Thursday, including Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (92 overall), wide receiver Drake London (91 overall), and the team's entire rookie draft class. Jalon Walker is the game's sixth-highest-rated rookie. Check out the ratings for Atlanta's five-player draft class below: Highlights: Penix, Floyd, Walker Falcons OC named future head coach candidate In a new feature from Pro Football Sports Network, Jacob Infante named Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson a future head coach candidate. If you're a good play-caller in the NFL, it generally doesn't take long to get a head coaching gig. Despite the team's quarterback controversy last season, Robinson did a stellar job in Year 1: Robinson, 38, comes from the highly regarded Sean McVay tree, having been the Rams' passing game coordinator in 2022 and 2023 before his promotion in Atlanta. He has a big opportunity to become a strong head coaching candidate if the Falcons' passing game performs well with Michael Penix Jr. now under center. -- Jacob Infante, PFSN
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Falcons' first-round pick among highest-rated rookies in Madden 26
The Atlanta Falcons walked away from the 2025 NFL draft with a projected top-10 pick in Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker. The former Bulldog filled a massive need for the Falcons, who also drafted Tennessee's James Pearce Jr. later in the first round. Walker split time as an edge rusher and off-ball linebacker in college, which may have hurt his draft stock enough to fall out of the top 10. However, the developers over at EA Sports still view the rookie as a top talent. Madden NFL 26 revealed its ratings for the top 10 rookies ahead of the 2025 season. Walker, who was drafted 15th overall, earned the sixth-best rookie rating (79 overall) from Madden. Madden NFL 26: 10 highest-rated rookies Walker's former teammate, Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams, was the ninth-highest-rated rookie in Madden 26. Williams was drafted four spots ahead of Walker, going to the San Francisco 49ers with the 11th overall pick. Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter is the game's highest-rated rookie, earning an 84 overall rating. Pearce's rating is still a mystery since the former Volunteers standout was not among the game's 10 highest-rated rookies. This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: Rookie Jalon Walker's Madden 26 rating revealed
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Falcons first-rounder Jalon Walker dealing with a hamstring injury
Falcons first-round pick Jalon Walker is dealing with his first NFL injury. Walker has been sidelined by a hamstring injury this week that head coach Raheem Morris called minor in a Thursday press conference. Walker has missed practice a couple of days this week and Morris said that the edge rusher will do some individual and rehab work as the team takes a cautious approach to bringing him back to full speed. "He's wearing me out trying to get out there and practice," Morris said. "I love that about him." The Falcons are counting on Walker and fellow first-rounder James Pearce to juice up their pass rush, so they'll likely take as much time as needed to be sure Walker is fully healed before giving him the practice return he's pushing for this week.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Falcons' first-round pick among highest-rated rookies in Madden 26
Falcons rookie LB Jalon Walker's Madden 26 rating revealed The Atlanta Falcons walked away from the 2025 NFL draft with a projected top-10 pick in Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker. The former Bulldog filled a massive need for the Falcons, who also drafted Tennessee's James Pearce Jr. later in the first round. Walker split time as an edge rusher and off-ball linebacker in college, which may have hurt his draft stock enough to fall out of the top 10. However, the developers over at EA Sports still view the rookie as a top talent. Madden NFL 26 revealed its ratings for the top 10 rookies ahead of the 2025 season. Walker, who was drafted 15th overall, earned the sixth-best rookie rating (79 overall) from Madden. Madden NFL 26: 10 highest-rated rookies Walker's former teammate, Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams, was the ninth-highest-rated rookie in Madden 26. Williams was drafted four spots ahead of Walker, going to the San Francisco 49ers with the 11th overall pick. Jaguars wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter is the game's highest-rated rookie, earning an 84 overall rating. Pearce's rating is still a mystery since the former Volunteers standout was not among the game's 10 highest-rated rookies.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Falcons predicted to trade for $1.25 million Browns run-stopper to add veteran help
The Atlanta Falcons seem to believe they've figured things out offensively with all the essential pieces now in place. That's why they've gone hard the last two years beefing up the other side of the ball. The Falcons have made six draft additions to their defensive front during that span. Last year's additions haven't quite worked out just yet, which is why they used not one, but two first-round picks in this year's draft — selecting Jalon Walker at No. 15 and James Pearce Jr. later at No. 26. Still, some of the Falcons' lingering issues on the defensive front could persist this season. Not only is Atlanta banking on second-year unknowns and rookies, but they'll be without veteran Grady Jarrett, who was cut this offseason. That leaves the door open for veteran help up front. AOL's Jordan O'Malley suggests one last-minute trade the Falcons could make before training camp is acquiring veteran defensive lineman Shelby Harris. 'Harris isn't a star, but he's a dependable veteran run-stopper, and that's exactly what Atlanta lacks in the middle,' O'Malley wrote. 'Atlanta's run defense ranked 26th in 2024, and their current interior group needs more experience. Harris would slot in immediately and bring toughness and leadership to a defensive line that needs both.' Harris will be entering his 11th NFL season. He's compiled 27.5 sacks and five forced fumbles throughout his career. He missed three games last season with an elbow injury. Financially, the move makes sense: the Falcons have just under $5 million in cap space, per Over The Cap, and Harris is owed $1.255 million in 2025. Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp The Falcons' run defense left something to be desired last year. Statistically, they were around league average — ranking 15th in total rushing yards allowed (2,051), and surrendering 120.6 rushing yards per game. But the real problem came in critical moments. Opponents converted third downs 45.3% of the time, ranking Atlanta's defense 31st in the league. Falcons beat writer Tori McElhaney addressed these concerns directly while responding to a fan question about whether the team had done enough to fix its rush defense. 'Truth be told, it is a question I have myself. Because you're right that they are sticking with their own. And their own are in a little bit of uncharted waters at the moment. In fact, there are still a number of questions I have about Orhorhoro and the mantel he will take on in 2025, as well as the defensive front as a whole. Is Orhorhoro ready for the challenge presented? Can Zach Harrison emerge as a trusted playmaker (more on this in the next section)? How do new presences off the edge affect run defense numbers (i.e. how quickly can Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. make their presence known)? If better on first and second down, how does this improve pass rush stats?' Again, all the confidence in the 2025 Falcons is on the offensive side of the ball. The defense — not so much.
