Offensive tackle Elijah Wilkinson signed a free-agent deal with the Arizona Cardinals last week. Following the news, the ex-Falcons OT got into a social media battle with Atlanta fans, blasting his former team.
In since-deleted comments, the 31-year-old responded to fan criticism with harsh words about his time in Atlanta.
"Good luck with that clown show over there," Wilkinson responded, according to Atlanta reporter Miles Garrett.
Wilkerson spent three of the past four years with the Falcons, with a one-year stopover in Arizona in 2023. Last season, he started 17 games after Kaleb McGary suffered a preseason knee injury. The veteran didn't appreciate fan comments after he returned to the Cardinals in free agency.
"Lol, y'all in hell (right now)," Wilkinson said in another comment. "Have fun being a-- next year."
As fans are wont to do, they didn't relent, continuing to badger the offensive tackle, pointing out his numerous penalties, including nine false starts. At one point in a conversation, Wilkonson turned some of the blame for the Falcons' struggles on his former teammates.
"Hahaha yeah alright, and all the passes (Darnell) Mooney dropped and (Kyle) Pitts f--- off my line," Wilkinson wrote. "Have fun rooting to lose the NFC South. 28-3. 28-3… Haahahahahhahha laughing stock."
At least one fan defended Wilkinson, a former undrafted free agent, who is entering his 10th NFL season, mostly as a rotational lineman who can play guard or tackle and has started 62 games in his career. Any undrafted free agent who can make it a decade in the league has done something right.
"Thanks for supporting me when half these people commenting wouldn't," Wilkinson responded. "Bailed the Falcons out when they had nowhere to turn. Good luck moving forward."
The lesson here, as always, is don't get into social media arguments with fans. There is no winning.