Walker reaches career milestone, takes home memento

Tight end's one reception versus Falcons was the 500th of his career

Delanie Walker got his hands on just one ball Sunday. He never let it go.

The Tennessee Titans veteran became the 16 tight end in NFL history with 500 career receptions when he gained four yards on a pass from Marcus Mariota with just over five minutes to play in the first quarter.

“I kept the ball,” he said. “That’s a milestone. You have to keep the ball when you do that.”

Walker, in his 14 season, started the day with 499 receptions and was targeted just twice in Tennessee’s 24-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. He had at least four catches in each of this season’s first three games and three or more in his last 25 appearances, including the playoffs, dating back to 2016.

The last time he finished a game with just one reception was Oct. 16, 2016.

But this one he will remember for a long time.

With six more receptions he will pass former Titans great Frank Wycheck and former Indianapolis star Dallas Clark, who are currently tied for 14. By the end of the season, he could be in the top 10 for career receptions by a tight end.

The overwhelming majority of his catches – 377 of them (75.4 percent) – have come in his seven seasons with the Titans, which ranks eighth on the franchise’s all-time list. With 23 more he will become the eighth player ever to catch 400 passes for the Titans/Oilers.

He has led Tennessee in receptions four times and four games into this season has a team-high 17 for 162 yards and two touchdowns.

His first seven NFL seasons were with San Francisco, where he caught 123 passes but more often was used as a blocker, even a fullback.

“I’m just glad that I was able to get to 500 and play this game as long as I have and just have the opportunity to get that,” Walker said. “I’m excited, but I look to try to surpass that.”