For the Falcons' rookie edge rusher, Sundays game is personal. His cleats show why.

Will McFadden

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. Jalon Walker has been everything the Atlanta Falcons hoped he would be on and off the field.

The No. 15 pick in April's draft has quickly emerged as a dynamic player on defense and a budding leader in the locker room.

"He feels like a I'm not exaggerating at all - he feels like a 10-year vet," Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. "The way that he commands the group, the way he speaks, the confidence that he has, the aura that he carries. It will not take him very long to be a captain here, in my opinion."

Walker was named theNFLs rookie of the weekafter recording five tackles, including two for a loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and a pass breakup in Week 9 against the New England Patriots. He was then nominated for the same award a week later after notching six tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery against the Indianapolis Colts.

The rookie edge defender has had a positive impact on the Falcons' resurgent defense, but Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints provides the opportunity for a different kind of uplifting moment.

In Week 12, the two teams will participate in the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative, which is describedon its websiteas "a player-led initiative where players, coaches and staff wear custom-designed cleats to spotlight the causes and nonprofits they care about most."

When Walker steps onto the turf at Caesar's Superdome, he'll be sporting an eye-catching shade of blue to raise awareness for Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita (AMC). According toArthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita Support, Inc., AMC is "a term used to describe a group of congenital conditions characterized by joint contractures in two or more body areas."

AMC is an umbrella term, meaning it is used to cover at least 400 different conditions and syndromes. Among the more common types of AMC is Amyoplasia, which occurs with twins.

"I have twin cousins," Walker toldAtlantaFalcons.com. "One twin did not receive as much nutrients as the other twin, so that causes stiffness in joints. He doesn't have an elbow."

Walker's cousins are 9-year-old twin boys named Edwin and Howard, who lived in Fiji with their mother before moving to the United States. Edwin was born with AMC, which impacts his elbow and wrist, among other areas, but those obstacles have done little to slow him down.

"I've watched his growth and his progress from where he wasn't able to walk, where he had casts on his feet, casts on his wrists, his joints and things like that," Walker said. "But that does not stop him at all."

Edwin has undergone various treatments and surgeries at Shriners Children's Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina, that have improved his condition to the point where Walker says he's able to walk "perfectly fine" and the remaining manifestations of the disease like a bent wrist don't affect him much.

During those procedures, Walker says Edwin remains firmly entrenched in his family's hearts and minds. Walker carves out time in the demanding schedule of an NFL rookie to FaceTime Edwin as often as he can to get updates on his life and provide support. And there's another champion in Edwin's journey that is closer to him than anyone else his brother Howard.

"They're two peas in a pod, for sure," Walker said. "If you see one, you'll see the other right behind him. And I enjoy their relationship because their closeness reminds me of me and my brother's closeness. The way I see them operate, they still play the same; they still do everything the same that you see a normal child do.

"His twin brother is his wingman, so if he's not able to do anything or if anything's hindering him, he'll make sure he finds a way."

Treatment and care for AMC often centers around helping an individual become as independent as possible, providing them with a sense of personal dignity and the ability to follow their own passions. For Edwin, that involves sports, singing and drawing.

"They're full of joy, full of laughter. They love to play, love to play sports," Walker said. "Edwin, he's actually a great artist. He can draw. As I speak about his condition and his wrist being bent, like I said, anything that does not hinder him, he uses it to his own advantage. He's a great artist. He's a great singer. Nobody really knows that he sings."

Walker can also display a flair for showmanship from time to time. Look no further than his signature sack celebration, "The Walk," for evidence.

When Walker gets on FaceTime with Edwin and Howard, they make sure to show him their rendition of his move. Moments like those provide an important perspective for a first-year player, reminding him of the impact he has on those he holds closest.

"I love them to death. Their support is immense for me, being their older cousin," Walker said. "I try to be that role model for them. Just give them another outlook on life that you don't have to do certain things. Just follow your own path and enjoy what you like to do."

As Walker continues his own path Sunday in his first taste of one of the NFL's best rivalries, Edwin will be close to his heart.

When Walker laces up his blue cleats, he won't just be raising awareness for an important cause. He'll be lifting the spirits of someone for whom he cares deeply.

"He called me the other day and was like, 'Hey, J, I saw my name on your cleats!' I know that little thing means the world to him," Walker said. "I can't wait to play for him."

For more information about Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita and how to support those affected by it, please visitwww.amcsupport.org

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