Warning: We're going to delve into comics spoilers here, about events which have yet to happen on the TV series.

Rick Grimes has to deal with Negan and his Saviors, but could the next Big Bad be already on the horizon?

AMC shared a chilling Instagram post yesterday to promote The Walking Dead - and some fans have already jumped to the conclusion that we'll be seeing the Whisperers sooner than expected.

The evidence? The head on a pike.

Related: The Walking Dead season 7: spoilers, cast, air date and everything you need to know

So here's a brief rundown of the Whisperers: they dress themselves in the skin of zombies for camouflage and to walk among the walkers. This group targets the living, believing the undead should be left unharmed.

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In Issue 144, their leader Alpha kills several characters - including Rosita and Ezekiel - planting their decapitated heads on a line of pikes.

Let's be clear: this theory that the Whisperers are coming is nothing but speculation. So don't get excited just yet.

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Related: The Walking Dead season 7: Did the preview clip just confirm Negan kills Maggie?

If we're following the timeline of the TV series, the Whisperers should be introduced properly at the end of season eight or during the ninth season. Bringing them in now seems awfully soon, so it's difficult to buy it.

Still, it's a very striking image.

In the meantime, we have a Negan-shaped threat to worry about right now.

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AMC

Related: The Walking Dead: Who does Negan kill? Here's what happens next in the comics

Get ready for the season seven premiere, because according to Jeffrey himself, Negan won't be killing just one person in the first episode back.

And then there's the fact that AMC may have revealed yet another death coming later in the season at the hands of Negan. If you want to be spoiled on whose demise you should prepare for, go here.

The Walking Dead returns to AMC on October 23 and FOX UK on October 24.