FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons have been without their No. 15 overall draft pick for a couple training camp practices. On Thursday morning, head coach Raheem Morris addressed the situation, announcing that Jalon Walker is working through a "minor" hamstring injury.
The Falcons' plan for Walker is to be cautious with the soft tissue injury. According to Morris, Walker will be full-go during individual drills on Thursday morning's padded practice, but will be held out for team drills to work on the sideline with trainers — "he won't be happy about it," per Morris. Walker was fully held out for the previous two practices for Atlanta.
"We don't want this thing to turn into a long-term thing," Morris said.
Still, Morris expressed this is not a long-term situation for Walker at this time, but rather the team "protecting a player from himself." Because — as Morris noted — if it was up to Walker, he'd be practicing.
"The kid wants to go out there and I won't let him," Morris said. "... He is wearing me out trying to get out there at practice."
Asked about Walker's situation Wednesday, outside linebacker's coach Jacquies Smith noted its unfortunate because Walker "needs the reps." Morris agreed Thursday, but also said he feels like this situation shouldn't put Walker behind the eight ball too much in the long run.
"For us, of course you want to have guys out there. Of course, you want guys for every single practice, but that is not the reality of our sport," Morris said. "And the reality of our sport is that you have to find out how to manage guys, how to prepare the right way to get those guys ready to go. I have so much confidence in what (Walker) has done, who he is ... (him being held out) I know it won't hurt as much as most because of who this guy is."
Walker's situation is a fluid one that the Falcons are monitoring in real time.
