Walker appears to have lost his starting job after Brian Branch's recent promotion to the first-team defense, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.
Walker has drawn relatively good reports out of training camp given that he is coming off of a torn Achilles. However, Branch has forced his way into a starting job at nickel corner, which has pushed free-agent acquisition C.J. Gardner-Johnson to safety alongside Kerby Joseph. Seemingly the odd man out, Walker looks likely to finish well below the 800ish snaps he averaged from 2019 to 2021.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Returns to gridiron
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Walker (Achilles) worked with Detroit's first-team defense Saturday, Benjamin Raven of MLive reports.
Walker suffered an Achilles injury that sidelined him from Week 4 of last year but has since had the offseason to move past the issue. The team captain started 15 games for the Lions in 2021, racking up 108 tackles, six pass breakups and one interception. Expect the veteran to start alongside second-year safety Kerby Joseph ahead of the coming season.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Eyeing return for OTAs
Rotowire
Walker (Achilles) recently suggested via his personal Twitter account that he will be ready for the Lions' offseason training program this spring.
After tearing his Achilles in late September, it would be an impressive feat for Walker to make it back for the start of offseason workouts. Even if the Lions' coaching staff has different plans for its standout safety, it at least seems that Walker could be available well before the start of the 2023 season opener.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Won't play Sunday
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The Lions downgraded Walker (illness) from questionable to out ahead of Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
Detroit brought Walker back from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday, but the Lions evidently had some reservations about his availability, given that he took a questionable tag into the weekend. Walker remains on the active roster and still appears to be asymptomatic of the virus, but Detroit may want to give him some more recovery time after he sat out last week's loss to the Broncos and didn't practice in any capacity Week 15. While Walker is out for another game, look for Will Harris and Dean Marlowe to serve as Detroit's starting safety tandem.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Questionable Sunday
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Walker (illness) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Walker was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday but will still carry a questionable designation ahead of Sunday's matchup. If he's able to play, he'll presumably serve as the starting free safety.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Off COVID list
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Walker was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday.
Walker was forced to miss Week 14 due to the issue. He'll be back at his starting free safety spot against the Cardinals on Sunday.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Ready to go Sunday
Rotowire
Walker (concussion) will play Sunday against the Browns.
Walker left early in Week 10 with a concussion, but he cleared protocols in time to practice in full on Friday. Walker should resume his role as the starting free safety.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Returning to free safety
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Walker is back to playing more of a free safety role this offseason, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
While organizing a Detroit defense that ultimately finished last season with franchise-worst marks in total yards (6,716) and points (519) allowed, the Lions' old coaching staff had moved Walker from the free safety role he excelled in during 2019 to more of a strong safety role in 2020. The result was 16 fewer tackles for Walker despite playing in two more games, a drop from his 2019 performance when he averaged nearly eight tackles per contest. Since it seems like the Lions' new regime is returning Walker to his natural role at free safety, the 26-year-old is back in the mix as an interesting IDP option ahead of the 2021 campaign.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Returns to team
Rotowire
Walker (personal) is officially active for Sunday's game against the Bears.
Walker missed Friday's practice to witness the birth of his son but he's returned to the team in time to suit up. Now that Walker is officially suiting up Sunday, expect him to handle his usual starting role at free safety.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Missing more time
Rotowire
Walker (foot) was listed as a limited participant during Wednesday's practice.
Walker was forced to miss last week's loss to the Vikings after failing to practice with the foot issue, so it's at least a positive sign he was able to practice. If Walker were forced to miss Sunday's game against Washington, Will Harris would be in line for another start at free safety, with Miles Killebrew slotting behind him.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Won't play against Vikings
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Walker (foot) won't play Sunday against the Vikings, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Walker was unable to practice all week, so it's not surprising to see him ruled out. Will Harris is Walker's direct backup at free safety, but the Lions could also opt to fill the snaps vacated by Walker's absence with alternative reserve safety Jayron Kearse.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Battling foot injury
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Walker (foot) didn't participate in Wednesday's practice, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
The team hasn't revealed the nature or severity of Walker's foot injury, but he's in danger of missing Sunday's game versus the Vikings unless he can get back onto the practice field by Friday. Walker has already stacked up 51 tackles and four pass breakups through seven games, so it'd be a key loss to the Lions' defense if he can't go. Jayron Kearse is the next man up at free safety if Walker misses out.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Team's leading tackler in defeat
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Walker collected six solo tackles and five assists during Sunday's 41-21 loss to the Colts.
When the safety leads the team in tackles it's often a discouraging sign for the defense, and that was again the case Sunday as Indianapolis racked up 262 yards through the air and 119 yards on the ground along with five total touchdowns. Despite the off day from Detroit's defense, Walker's coverage numbers have been respectable to this point in the season, as he's held opponents to a 52 percent completion rate with 4.8 yards per target.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Nearing century mark in tackles
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Walker recorded eight tackles during Sunday's 27-17 loss to Denver.
With his first tackle of the game, Walker became the second Lions player to stuff the stat sheet to the tune of 90 tackles, five pass breakups, one pick and one forced fumble in either of his first two seasons. While that distinction doesn't mean much in a vacuum, it does go to show how productive Walker has been in Matt Patricia's scheme after many questioned Detroit's judgement in taking him in the third round last offseason. With the Lions' linebacker corps down to second- and third-stringers, Walker's role in the defense will become even more crucial during Sunday's season finale against Green Bay.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Good to go versus Bears
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Walker (knee) is active for Thursday's divisional contest against the Bears.
Walker sat out Week 12's game against Washington, but he'll manage to play through his knee issue Thanksgiving Day. The second-year pro will draw his usual start in the secondary versus Chicago.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Questionable for Thursday
Rotowire
Walker (knee) is considered questionable for Thursday's matchup against the Bears.
Walker is in danger of missing his second straight game, but it's encouraging that he was listed as a limited participant in every practice this week. The final verdict on Walker's status will be determined 90 minutes ahead of Thursday's 12:30 p.m. ET kickoff. Will Harris is slated to start if Walker can't go.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: DNP to start week
Rotowire
Walker (knee) didn't participate in Wednesday's practice.
Walker sat out two games with a knee injury and seemingly aggravated this issue during his return to action. The second-year safety's status will remain uncertain unless he can take the field in full capacity before Sunday's game against the Redskins. If Walker's unable to go, Will Harris and Miles Killebrew are expected to rotate in.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Unavailable Week 10
Rotowire
Walker (knee) was ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bears.
Walker will miss his second straight game with the knee injury after not practicing this week. Miles Killebrew (concussion) was also ruled out, likely leaving C.J. Moore to start next to Tavon Wilson at safety.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Can't practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Walker (knee) is not practicing Wednesday.
Walker suffered a knee injury during Sunday's win over the Giants and is considered day-to-day. His availability for Week 9 against the Raiders will likely come down to the extent of his participation in practice Thursday and Friday. Should Walker be forced to miss any time, Miles Killebrew would be the favorite to start at free safety.
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Lions' Tracy Walker: Poised for starting job
Rotowire
Walker is the favorite to replace Glover Quin in the starting lineup for 2019, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
A third-round pick in the 2018 draft, Walker came on strong at the end of his rookie season, averaging 32.5 snaps and 2.8 tackles over the final four games while also holding his own in coverage. His solid play may have contributed to the Lions' decision to release the 33-year-old Quin, a 16-game starter each of the past six seasons. The team likely intends to use Walker and Quandre Diggs as the starting safeties in 2019, with the latter coming off a 2018 campaign in which he piled up 78 tackles (64 solo), three interceptions (one for a touchdown) and eight passes defensed. Diggs is the safe IDP play, but Walker could get plenty of tackle opportunities in a defense that prefers to use its safeties interchangeably.
