Tracy Walker Offers Ambitious Return Timetable

Read more on the optimistic timetable Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker has set for his return from injury.

The Detroit Lions have been snakebitten by the injury bug through the first quarter of the 2022 season. 

Among the numerous Lions players that have been bothered by a physical ailment has been safety Tracy Walker.

The fifth-year pro suffered a ruptured Achilles during Detroit's Week 3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, bringing an end to his '22 campaign after just three games.

Walker, who was coming off a career-best 108-tackle campaign in 2021, was expected to anchor the third level of the Lions' defense this season. He was even named a captain for the year prior to Detroit's season-opening contest with the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Although Walker's had to watch from the sidelines since suffering the injury, he's remained optimistic regarding his less-than-optimal situation.

“I mean, when I found out (about the severity of the ailment), yes, I was a little sad,” Walker told reporters Wednesday. “But, at the end of the day, I’m alive, well and blessed. I have two beautiful baby boys. I have a beautiful wife. I’m in a blessed position. Life goes on, and I’m going to keep battling. At the end of the day, I control what I can control. I’m just looking forward to the future." 

Walker's immediate playing future will be in Detroit. He signed a three-year contract extension this past offseason worth $25 million, including $16M guaranteed at signing. 

As part of his duties with the Lions, Walker serves as a mentor for the team's young secondary, a role he's continued to embrace while being away from the field.

"The guys listen. They trust me well. They believe in everything I’m about, so it’s great being able to be with everyone still,” Walker expressed. “I miss being around my family, man. And, like I said, this is my family away from my family, so it’s just me being around the locker room and just being back in here and being around the guys. It means a lot, you know. So, I’ll just come around and just -- I can’t do as much. I can’t whoop on ‘em in ping pong right now. But, I can still talk my trash and have that fun camaraderie. I’m happy to be back.

“Well, it’s definitely a huge change for the entire team. Me being the leader that I am, being the captain that I am. That voice is gone. But, who is to say that a lot of the other guys got to step up and a lot of the younger guys have to step up, like Jeff (Okudah), like Amani (Oruwariye), you know, DeShon (Elliott). Guys like that, they got to step up. I’m not here, and they got to keep going. We still got 12 games left. We got to come with it and have it on our mind to get it right.”

While offering advice to his teammates off the field, Walker has kept his sights on returning to the action on it. And, on Wednesday, he offered an ambitious timetable for his return.

“You know what? I’m circling right now, if I had to be honest with you, OTAs,” Walker said. “You know, that’s the first step. First step is trying to get ready for OTAs. If I can do a little something, (it'll be) OTAs. From that point on, but like I said, for OTAs, I got to get out of this boot. I take it one step at a time, one day at a time. I don’t ever want to get too ahead, if that makes sense.”