_(cropped).jpg) Walker with the Washington Football Team in 2021 | |||||||
| No. 59 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | (1992-12-11)December 11, 1992 (age 32) Palos Verdes, California, U.S. | ||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight | 236 lb (107 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school | Palos Verdes | ||||||
| College | Oregon (2012–2015) | ||||||
| NFL draft | 2016: 7th round, 251st overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Joe Walker (born December 11, 1992) is an American former professionalfootball player who was alinebacker in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theOregon Ducks and was selected in the seventh round of the2016 NFL draft by thePhiladelphia Eagles. He was also a member of theArizona Cardinals,San Francisco 49ers andWashington Football Team.
Walker led the Ducks intackles in 2015, having started all but five games since the2013 Alamo Bowl. He collected 203 career tackles in three seasons at Oregon, and 102 more during one season at junior college. He had many dynamic plays on the Ducks' fast-paced defense, including twofumbles recovered fortouchdowns, one of which was the notorious drop at the 1-yard line byUtah wide receiverKaelin Clay in the Utah-Oregon game on November 8, 2014, which Walker returned 99 yards for an Oregon touchdown.[1][2]
Walker was not one of the 39 collegiate linebackers invited to the 2016NFL Scouting Combine, but competed in Oregon'sPro Day.[3] Walker was a projected to be a seventh-round pick or priorityundrafted free agent byNFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked the 19th bestinside linebacker prospect in the draft by NFLDraftScout.com.[4]
| Height | Weight | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 236 lb (107 kg) | 4.60 s | 1.63 s | 2.65 s | 4.39 s | 6.86 s | 37 in (0.94 m) | 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) | 23 reps | |||
| All values from Oregon'sPro Day[4] | ||||||||||||
ThePhiladelphia Eagles selected Walker in the seventh round (251st overall) of the2016 NFL draft. He was the 36th and last linebacker selected in 2016.[5] The pick used to select him was a conditional pick that was traded from theArizona Cardinals in exchange forMatt Barkley.[6]
On May 4, 2016, Walker signed his four-year, rookie million contract.[7] Throughouttraining camp, he competed againstNajee Goode for a roster spot. On August 18, 2016, Walker tore his ACL in a preseason game against thePittsburgh Steelers, effectively ending his rookie season.[8] On August 28, 2016, Walker was placed oninjured reserve.[9]
He made his professional debut in thePhiladelphia Eagles season-opening 30–17 win at theWashington Redskins. On September 24, 2017, Walker assisted on one tackle during the Eagles' 27–24 victory against theNew York Giants. His first career tackle was withJalen Mills as they teamed up to tackle Giants' wide receiverSterling Shepard after he made a 10-yardreception in the first quarter.[10] On October 29, 2017, Walker earned his first career start and made a season-high three combined tackles in a 33–10 win over theSan Francisco 49ers. He was named the starting middle linebacker afterJordan Hicks suffered a torn Achilles and was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. During a Week 12 matchup against theChicago Bears, Walker suffered a neck injury and was placed on injured reserve on December 29, 2017.[11] He finished the season with ten combined tackles (six solo) and apass deflection in 12 games and three starts.[12] The Eagles wonSuper Bowl LII against theNew England Patriots by a score of 41–33.[13]
On September 2, 2018, Walker was waived by the Eagles and was signed to thepractice squad the next day.[14]
On September 19, 2018, Walker was signed by theArizona Cardinals off the Eagles practice squad.[15]
On March 24, 2020, Walker signed a one-year contract with theSan Francisco 49ers.[16][17] He was released on September 5, 2020, and signed to the practice squad the next day.[18][19] He was elevated to the active roster on September 26 for the team's week 3 game against theNew York Giants, and reverted to the practice squad after the game on September 28.[20][21] He was elevated again on October 3 for the week 4 game against the Eagles,[21] and reverted to the practice squad again after the game on October 5. He was signed to the active roster on October 21.[22] He was placed on the team's reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 19, 2020,[23] and activated on November 28.[24]
Walker signed with theWashington Football Team on May 19, 2021.[25] He was released on August 31, 2021.[26]
On October 13, 2021, Walker was signed to the Cardinals practice squad.[27] He was promoted to the active roster on December 21.[28] He was waived on January 11, 2022 and re-signed to the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Cardinals on January 19, 2022.[29]
On August 29, 2022, Walker was released by the Cardinals.[30]
