Falcons injury updates on Jessie Bates III, Zach Harrison

The injury bug is rolling through the Falcons locker room in the first week of training camp, with Jalon Walker being the most notable loss. He suffered a torn ACL earlier this week and will miss the entire 2026 campaign.

Both Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. are less than 100%. The back injury for Tua is minor, and he’s participating in practice. Penix, on the other hand, hasn’t even begun 11-on-11 work, and it could be a few more weeks before that happens as he recovers from the torn ACL he suffered last season.

Additionally, Jessie Bates III and Zach Harrison are also dealing with injuries. Bates has missed the last few practices, but Kevin Stefanski did provide some positive news — it’s a minor back issue, so it shouldn’t be long before we see the All-Pro safety back on the field.

Harrison has been dealing with a knee injury dating back to last year, which landed him on Injured Reserve for the final two months of the season. His absence was a big one for the Falcons, as he was amid a breakout campaign in his third season, recording 22 tackles and 4.5 sacks. With Walker out for the year, having as many disruptive bodies as possible across the defensive line is paramount. Hopefully Harrison will be ready to roll when the Falcons take the field in Week 1 against the Steelers.