Ex-Husky Kevin King Signs with Atlanta, Reunites with Lake

The former University of Washington cornerback hasn't played since 2021.

Former University of Washington cornerback Kevin King will attempt an NFL comeback following a two-year layoff by signing with the Atlanta Falcons and reuniting with Jimmy Lake.

King and Lake, the Falcons' new defensive coordinator, were together in Montlake in 2014-16, or all except King's freshman year.

A planned NFL layoff in 2022 to clear his mind after a steady run of injuries turned into two seasons awy from the pro gfame when King tore an Achilles tendon during a workout in preparation for training camp.

A second-round pick, King played five seasons for the Green Bay Packers, appearing in 51 games and starting 42. He piled up 197 tackles and intercepted 7 passes, with 5 of those thefts coming during the 2019 season.

However, he suffered multiple shoulder injuries, plus hamstring and groin issues that impeded his play. When his play suffered, King was benched in 2021, leading him into taking time off and trying to get healthy again.

"I had surgery every year," King said in a social-media posting in 2022. "They don't talk about the wear and tear on your mental in dealing with injuries."

King, who initially signed with Steve Sarkisian's staff, started 35 games over his four seasons at the UW, earning All-Pac-12 honorable-mention honors as a senior for the Huskies' first College Football Playoff qualifier.

Lake was his Husky secondary coach in 2014 and 2015 and served as the team's co-defensive coordinator and DB coach in 2016.

Two years after getting fired as the two-year UW head coach, Lake was hired as the Falcons' defensive quarterback in late January.

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