Falcons share inside look at rookie linebacker's NFL debut

<p>A big unknown this season for the <a href="https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/football/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons/323" target="_blank">Atlanta Falcons</a> is their linebacker unit. Divine Deablo will lead the group, having inherited the green dot role from Kaden Elliss, now back with the <a href="https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/football/nfl/teams/new-orleans-saints/350" target="_blank">New Orleans Saints</a>.</p><p>Aside from that, it&#39;s difficult to say how this unit will look in 2026. </p><p>On paper, Christian Harris looks like the other starter at this position, but that&#39;s far from certain. The Falcons do have two promising rookies who may eventually inherit big roles for Atlanta&#39;s defense, in Oklahoma&#39;s Kendal Daniels and LSU&#39;s Harold Perkins.</p><p>Daniels and Perkins made their NFL debuts this past Friday night against the <a href="https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/football/nfl/teams/denver-broncos/332" target="_blank">Denver Broncos</a>, and Perkins was mic&#39;d up for the occasion. Watch.</p><p><iframe allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="113" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xd_1YKarLIQ?feature=oembed" title="MIC&#39;D UP | Harold Perkins Jr.&#39;s FIRST Preseason NFL Game | Atlanta Falcons" width="200"></iframe></p><p>Perkins (6-foot-1, 222 pounds) totaled five interceptions, 10 pass breakups, eight forced fumbles, 17 sacks and 220 combined tackles (35.5 for a loss) during his time at LSU.</p><core-slideshow data-slideshowid="8c343734-04ae-3f4a-9785-c373fb8bd583"/><core-slideshow data-slideshowid="dbdb9496-09d6-37bd-b2c0-5c4131c59a33"/><p><em>This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: <a href="https://thefalconswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/falcons/2026/08/20/harold-perkins-jr-gets-micd-up-treatment-from-falcons-in-preseason/91375304007/">Falcons share inside look at rookie linebacker&#39;s NFL debut</a></em></p>