The Falcons’ edge rush plans have taken a hit before the season even gets rolling, and the timing couldn’t be much worse.
Atlanta is now staring at the possibility of being down both of its top-two 2025 NFL Draft picks to open the 2026 season. Outside linebacker Jalon Walker, who was expected to be on the verge of a breakout in 2026, is feared to have torn his ACL in training camp on Tuesday. Outside linebacker James Pearce Jr. also appears headed for a suspension after an offseason incident that led to his arrest and serious charges, followed by a pre-trial diversion.
That leaves Atlanta with a familiar problem: finding enough juice off the edge. The Falcons have never exactly been built on terrorizing quarterbacks, and this could push them right back toward needing help in a hurry. If the team looks outside the building, there are a few veteran names that make some sense.
Haason Reddick is the cleanest fit on paper. He played under Ulbrich with the New York Jets in 2024 and then spent 2025 with the NFC South Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so he already knows the scheme and checks a major need for Atlanta.
Joey Bosa is still out there as well. The question is less about fit and more about how much he has left. He could step in and start on the defensive line for the Falcons and give them the kind of burst they’d welcome, but whether he’d actually choose Atlanta is another matter.
Leonard Floyd would be the most straightforward reunion. He was with the Falcons in 2025 and handled Ulbrich’s scheme well enough last fall, even if the production didn’t jump off the page. He finished with 3.5 sacks and 6 tackles.
Kyle Van Noy brings a different kind of value. He can move between the edge and linebacker spots, which is exactly the sort of flexibility Atlanta was counting on from Walker. His 2025 season wasn’t at the same level as some of his earlier work, but he could still make an impact.
Derek Barnett rounds out the list as a dependable option. He has been a consistent presence off the edge and posted five sacks for the Houston Texans last season, making him another veteran the Falcons could fold into the mix while Walker is sidelined.
In Other News...
Falcons Quarterback Battle Just Took A Turn Fans Didn't Expect
The Falcons quarterback picture has shifted in a hurry, with Tua Tagovailoa now the name getting the first-team work in practice as the team moves through camp. Atlanta brought him in on a one-year deal after his release from Miami, and the early signs suggest the staff is giving him every chance to settle into the offense with the regular season approaching.
Michael Penix Jr. remains on the sideline for now, still not cleared for full participation while he recovers from knee surgery. That has left the door open for Tagovailoa to keep stacking reps and build momentum, but the situation is still fluid enough that the next update could matter a lot for how the Falcons map out their Week 1 plans. [Read more 🡒]
Xavier Watts Just Made The Falcons Face A Tough Jessie Bates Call
Xavier Watts has already given the Falcons something to think about after a rookie season that turned heads around the league. The young defensive back finished with five interceptions and finished as a Defensive Rookie of the Year finalist, the kind of first-year impact that can reshape a secondary and make a team start asking bigger-picture questions earlier than expected.
For Atlanta, the timing matters because Jessie Bates III remains the established voice on the back end, but the conversation now includes how much longer the Falcons can keep that pairing intact. With Watts showing the kind of playmaking and poise that usually speeds up a teams plans, Atlanta suddenly has a difficult decision to make about what comes next at safety, and whether its future at the position is already arriving faster than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Quarterback Battle Is Already Leaving Week 1 In Doubt
The Falcons were supposed to spend training camp sorting out their quarterback room, but the competition has barely gotten off the ground. Tua Tagovailoa is easing back into full team work after back tightness, while Michael Penix Jr. is continuing his recovery from ACL surgery, leaving Atlanta to manage the position carefully instead of diving into a true camp battle.
Michael Penix Jr. is still weeks away from full 11-on-11 practice, which makes the early weeks of camp feel more like a holding pattern than a showdown. To keep things moving, the Falcons brought in veteran Cooper Rush to take part in drills, giving the team another live arm while it waits for its two main quarterbacks to get closer to full strength. [Read more 🡒]