Walker signed a contract with the Commanders on Tuesday.
Walker suited up eight times for the Steelers in 2023, recording 33 tackles (21 solo) and two passes defended, including one interception. It was a reduced role from his 2022 campaign with the Falcons, which saw him cross the century mark in tackles. He'll likely be a depth option in Washington's linebacker corps this season.
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Mykal Walker: Let go by Chicago
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The Bears waived Walker on Tuesday, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Walker appeared in 16 games with the Falcons during the 2022 campaign but was waived by the team in mid-August. He landed with the Bears a day later but was unable to secure a spot on Chicago's 53-man roster. Given his role with Atlanta last season, it wouldn't be surprising to see him find an opportunity elsewhere.
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Falcons' Mykal Walker: Posts first 100-plus tackle season
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Walker registered 107 tackles (56 solo), six pass defenses, two interceptions, one sack and one forced fumble across 16 appearances during the 2022 campaign.
Walker opened the season as a starter, posting 101 tackles, two interceptions and one sack across the first 12 games of the campaign. However, following Atlanta's Week 14 bye, he was replaced by rookie second-round pick Troy Andersen and saw just 39 defensive snaps over the final four games of the season. Overall, Walker's season totals look promising, but it appears he'll have an uphill battle for playing time during the final year of his rookie contract.
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Falcons' Mykal Walker: Modest production in Week 13
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Walker notched eight tackles (two solo) during Sunday's 19-16 loss to the Steelers.
Walker recorded at least eight tackles for a sixth straight game. Across 12 appearances, the third-year linebacker has totaled 101 tackles, six pass defenses, two interceptions, one sack and one forced fumble.
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Falcons' Mykal Walker: Eight tackles in defeat
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Walker registered eight tackles (five solo) during Thursday's 25-15 loss to the Panthers.
Walker was able to finish tied with Richie Grant for second on the team with eight takedowns, though his five solo efforts were the second highest outright. Over the last three games, the linebacker has produced 28 tackles while playing nearly every defensive snap.
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Falcons' Mykal Walker: Team-high 11 tackles in win
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Walker recorded 11 tackles (eight solo), including one for loss, during Sunday's 37-34 overtime win over the Panthers.
Walker returned from a one-game absence in Week 7 and recorded a season-low four tackles, but he bounced back Sunday by recording at least 11 tackles for the third time during the campaign. Across seven appearances, the third-year linebacker has already set a new career high with 59 stops while adding one sack, one interception and one forced fumble.
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Falcons' Mykal Walker: Ruled out for Week 6
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Walker (groin) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the 49ers, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Walker recorded 11 tackles before leaving Atlanta's Week 5 loss to Tampa Bay in the third quarter due to a groin injury. The Falcons' leading tackler was unable to practice Wednesday or Thursday and will presumably get another day off Friday as he turns his sights on suiting up for Week 7. In his absence, rookie second-round pick Troy Andersen, who recorded career highs in tackles (five) and defensive snaps (27) in Week 5, will likely replace Walker in the starting lineup, and fellow inside linebacker Rashaan Evans figures to see increased production as well.
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Falcons' Mykal Walker: Solid outing in Week 3 win
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Walker registered nine tackles and one pass defense during Sunday's 27-23 win over the Seahawks.
Walker notched a season-high nine stops but finished second on the team in tackles behind Rashaan Evans. Across three games, Walker has played nearly every defensive snap and totaled 22 tackles, two pass defenses and one interception.
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Falcons' Mykal Walker: Plays one series Friday
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Walker registered one tackle across 10 defensive snaps during Friday's preseason opener against the Lions.
Walker, along with the rest of Atlanta's starting defense, played just one drive, which ultimately ended in a Detroit touchdown. The 2020 fourth-round pick has appeared in every game for the Falcons since being drafted but saw more time on special teams (385 snaps) than he did on defense (186) last year. However, with Foye Oluokun gone and Deion Jones' (shoulder) future uncertain, Walker has a chance to open the 2022 campaign with a sizable role.
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Falcons' Mykal Walker: Starting Sunday
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Walker will draw a start for the Falcons on Sunday against the Jaguars, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Walker will step into greater opportunity with Deion Jones (shoulder) set to miss Sunday. Selected in the fourth round of the 2020 draft, Walker has played a limited role this season, totaling 11 tackles on 59 defensive snaps.
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Falcons' Mykal Walker: Earns six starts during rookie year
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Walker registered two tackles during Atlanta's Week 17 loss to the Buccaneers, closing out the 2020 season with 45 tackles, one pass deflection and a forced fumble over 16 games.
The fourth-round rookie from Fresno State totaled six starts on the 2020 campaign, fielding a workload of 24.1 defensive snaps per game. Walker endured mixed results in coverage, as he conceded a 110.3 passer rating on a limited sample of 15 targets. He was, however, relatively reliable as a tackler, establishing a 4.3 percent missed tackle rate. Falcons linebackers Walker and Deion Jones each remain under contract through 2023, but Foyesade Oluokun only has one year left on his current deal.
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Falcons' Mykal Walker: All clear Thursday
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Walker (shoulder) was a full participant during Thursday's practice, Tori McElhaney of The Athletic reports.
Walker has yet to miss a game this season while battling through hamstring and shoulder injuries, so it's a good sign that he's on track for Week 15. The rookie out of Fresno State has had a solid first year in the NFL, compiling 38 tackles (28 solo), one pass breakup and a forced fumble through 13 games. Now cleared from injury, expect Walker to handle his usual starting role at linebacker for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.
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Falcons' Mykal Walker: Co-leader in tackles Week 3
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Walker registered eight total tackles, including one tackle for loss and one forced fumble, during Sunday's 30-26 loss to the Bears.
Picking up his first career start as Foyesade Oluokun (hamstring) sat out, Walker tied Keanu Neal for the team high in tackles against Chicago. The rookie fourth-round draft choice received a maximum of 46 defensive snaps over his first two outings, but against the Bears, he fielded 88 percent of the workload (72 snaps) while seeing his special-teams role completely taken off his plate. Oluokun will surely be back in the starting rotation once he returns from injury, but Walker may have earned himself some more playing time moving forward based on his impact Week 3.
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Falcons' Mykal Walker: Not on injury report
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Walker (undisclosed) wasn't listed on Wednesday's injury report, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.
Walker should be ready for Sunday's season opener versus the Seahawks, and it appears the rookie fourth-rounder will open the year as a starting outside linebacker. He posted 9.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in his final season at Fresno State, but Walker could need an adjustment phase with no preseason action under his belt.
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Falcons' Mykal Walker: Held out of practice
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Walker (undisclosed) was sidelined for Wednesday's practice session, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports.
The rookie linebacker has been without a helmet for three straight practice sessions, though an injury has not yet been announced. Walker had been making an impact with his play in training camp prior to this inactive stint, and he remains an exciting developmental piece for the Falcons' front seven upon his return to the field.
