For the Atlanta Falcons’ Week 1 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the storylines are endless. Michael Penix Jr will be under the microscope while holding the keys to the franchise, Kyle Pitts is aiming to revive what has been a largely disappointing career with the Dirty Birds, and four rookies will be starting for Jeff Ulbrich’s defense on Sunday.
But one of those rookies has emerged as the biggest storyline in Atlanta. While the draft compensation the team gave up for James Pearce Jr. is turning heads, it’s his fellow first-rounder who could have the greater immediate impact.
First-round rookie Jalon Walker was among the best linebackers of the nation at Georgia, and didn’t have to go far to wreak havoc in the NFL. Raheem Morris told the media on Monday that the 21-year-old is “on track” to play in Week 1 after dealing with a groin injury that held him out of the final few weeks of training camp.
Morris: Jalon Walker is on track to play in Week 1. #Falcons
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) September 1, 2025
Jalon Walker is set to make an immediate impact in Atlanta
The former Butkus Award winner was selected No. 15 overall for a reason. During his junior season in Athens he amassed career-highs in sacks (6.5), tackles (60), and tackles for loss (11) en route to establishing himself as one of the nation’s best linebackers.
That production and explosiveness is exactly why the Falcons believe he can be a cornerstone of their attempt to re-establish a defensive identity. Walker is a key cog in what is one of the youngest defenses in football, and playing alongside veterans like Arnold Ebiketie and fellow Bulldog Leonard Floyd should help the North Carolina native adjust to the pros.
Atlanta finished 31st in the NFL in sacks in 2024 and allowed the highest completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks. So with star tackle Tristian Wirfs unlikely to play for the Bucs in Week 1, Walker could take advantage and help the team shut down one of the league’s premier offenses.
He may have amassed just one tackle in limited preseason action—the groin issue held him out of the team’s final two preseason games—but the potential is immense. 2024 third-rounder Bralen Trice was already placed on IR, so Walker’s return to the gridiron is a step in the right direction.
Walker’s Week 1 debut isn’t just a return from injury, it marks his chance to immediately shift the momentum for a Falcons defense desperate to rewrite its narrative.