Falcons Edge Rusher Jalon Walker Feared to Have Torn ACL

The worst three letters in sports just hit the Atlanta Falcons. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that edge rusher Jalon Walker is feared to have torn his ACL.

If the MRI confirms the worst, that is a wrap on Walker's season before the leaves even start changing colors. You can survive a lot of things in the modern NFL, but losing a premier edge rusher is like trying to win a drag race with a flat tire.

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"Adam Schefter reported the injury fear via Twitter."

The Falcons have spent the last few years desperately trying to build a pass rush that actually makes opposing quarterbacks sweat. Walker was supposed to be a massive part of that equation. Now, the coaching staff is going to have to manufacture pressure with blitzes, which is just a polite way of saying they are about to leave their secondary completely exposed.

From a market perspective, this is the kind of injury that quietly shifts lines. When a defense cannot get home with four guys, they give up explosive plays. Bettors will absolutely be looking at opposing team totals and quarterback props differently when they play Atlanta moving forward.

We are waiting on the official MRI results, but the tone of these reports rarely ends in a sigh of relief. The Falcons front office is probably already scanning the free-agent scrap heap or working the phones for a trade, because you simply cannot compete in the NFC without guys who can hunt the quarterback.