Falcons Dealt Serious Injury
August 4th, 2026
Joe already documented how the Carolina Panthers are dealing with four major injuries, three on offense and one on defense. That’s a tough situation for a losing team/franchise.
And now comes news of the Falcons losing second-year edge rusher Jalon Walker. He was their first-round draft pick last season, along with felonious edge rusher James Pearce (10.5 sacks) in Round 1. NFL Network is reporting Walker injured his knee in practice and the Falcons fear it’s a torn ACL.
Pearce is participating in training camp but is expected to be suspended by the league.
Walker had 5 1/2 sacks last season. That’s a half-sack more than Nic Scourton had, the Panthers’ emerging edge rusher who tore his ACL last month.
Joe is almost (keyword; almost) tempted to suggest the Bucs trade Vita Vea for a quality backup quarterback and a powerful blocking tight end. Make the offense unstoppable and plan to outscore everyone.
August 4th, 2026 at 4:33 pm
That’s already your de facto 2025 and 2026 1st round draft picks gone before the season has even started. If it wasn’t the Dirty Birds, I’d say that really does stink.
Remember how it felt when just our 2025 FOURTH round Draft pick of a Pass/Edge rusher went down before the season even started
August 4th, 2026 at 4:46 pm
I know I’ve been begging Joe to let the sleeping dead-to-me dog lie, but to quote the great John Cleese, “And now for something completely different…”
Apparently, For The Win is absolutely clueless. Maybe Joe needs to reach out and lock him on. X-D
“In the offseason, after a legendary 12-year tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team let him walk to the San Francisco 49ers for a lucrative contract. Part of that decision was to empower the young Emeka Egbuka as the clear No. 1 in the Tampa Bay offense. And part of it was because, well, Evans is 32 and not all great receivers age like fine wine into their 30s, especially as Evans showed with his up-and-down 2025. When the proverbial decline happens for a playmaker, it is almost never gradual, and it’s often related to their health.”
…and then later in the article…
“But man, it’s hard not to applaud the Buccaneers for showing some shrewd business savvy by recognizing that perhaps paying the older receiver with 12 years of NFL mileage on his body isn’t necessarily the best idea. Many NFL teams fail such a test all the time, but the Buccaneers didn’t. They deserve their kudos for it.”
This is precisely the opposite of what happened. The Bucs offered a larger contract in a state with no income taxes, and the ship jumper jumped ship anyway.
August 4th, 2026 at 4:53 pm
I feel their fans pain.
August 4th, 2026 at 5:00 pm
I KNEW-IT was going to be Walker, and I KNEW-IT was going to be an ACL. He was injured at the very beginning of Training Camp LAST OFFSEASON. Now, THIS. He a really good dude. Literally, TOP. Of. THE. LINE. But, for whatever reason(s)… Guys who are ‘built’ like HIM, with his speed and everything else… I am always, scared to DEATH with ACL-type injuries, with these guys!!!! I hope the best for him. You never want to see this happen to (almost lol) anyone, but especially to someone like HIM. 💯
August 4th, 2026 at 5:00 pm
i’m worried Bain will get hurt, something stupid, shelter these guys till next month. i think we need Vea, pay him but not baker. our defensive line with vea would be something to be reckoned with
vea kancey yaya and bain, dude!
August 4th, 2026 at 5:04 pm
Major injuries before even having a worthless (per Joe) preseason game is the worst kind of injury timing. All the training, mini camps, off season conditioning and strength building and a starter gets hurt before even doing much of anything in pads. It’s sad. 😞 Regardless of the team, division or conference. Now you just gotta watch everyone else and go through months of agonizing rehab.
Now all that gets worked out is your character and patience. Ask Bucky and Chris how much fun it is.
August 4th, 2026 at 5:04 pm
Just got through watching a highlight reel on Gronk…man that dude was a serious weapon.
August 4th, 2026 at 5:11 pm
@ Not a good look says: “That’s already your de facto 2025 and 2026 1st round draft picks gone before the season has even started.”
That would be absolutely TRUE. Since, they gave up ‘their’ 2026 1st to the RAMS, which became this year’s #13. It was looking like, a really good deal (for both teams for a change) in the very beginning, until Ol’ Pearce Junior, turned into Pearce Junior AGAIN, & did “Pearce Junior Things” during this off-season.
August 4th, 2026 at 5:14 pm
I probably shouldn’t say this aloud….we have had four practices and nobody’s really hurt yet
August 4th, 2026 at 5:29 pm
Hey Joe let’s just worry about the Bucs. !!!. I just want to see this team play like a real team interested in winning. Then everything will take care of the rest.
August 4th, 2026 at 5:35 pm
With Bowles they should trade everyone of defense worth anything because offense is all we have to hope for
August 4th, 2026 at 5:43 pm
Joe is almost (keyword; almost) tempted to suggest the Bucs trade Vita Vea for a quality backup quarterback and a powerful blocking tight end. Make the offense unstoppable and plan to outscore everyone.
———–
Winston should be available for very very cheap.
As for a run blocking TE, not sure what the market is on that, but man, trading Vita should get a lot more than that. Run blocking TE’s generally don’t have a ton of value.
With that said, I love the attitude. You win by scoring more points than the other team.
August 4th, 2026 at 6:04 pm
Reporter asks : Coach, what is your game plan to win?
Coach says: “ Outscore the other team “
Reporter asks: Coach Todd, what is your game plan to win?
Coach Todd: “ Keep it close and let MY defense close it out so I get credit defensive genius credits”
Reporter asks: Coach McVay, what is your game plan to win?
Coach McVay: To score so many points that the opposing team players cry and get their coach fired.
Points are a good thing