Anthony Walker
refer to caption
Walker with the Cleveland Browns in 2021
No. 5 – Cleveland Browns
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1995-08-08) August 8, 1995
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:Monsignor Edward Pace
(Miami Gardens, Florida)
College:Northwestern (2014–2016)
NFL Draft:2017 / Round: 5 / Pick: 161
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Total tackles:469
Sacks:4.5
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:2
Interceptions:3
Pass deflections:15
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Anthony Laron Walker Jr. (born August 8, 1995) is an American football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Northwestern and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

College career

Walker first saw action in his redshirt freshman season when Collin Ellis went down with a series of injuries. In his first career game, Walker returned an interception for a touchdown against Penn State that capped a Northwestern win. In his first full season as a starter, Walker found success as he recorded 122 tackles to lead the team and 20.5 tackles for loss which was fourth in the nation. For his performance that season, Walker received All-American recognition from the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated as well as Consensus First-team All-Big Ten honors.[1][2][3] On November 29, 2016, Walker was named Second-team All-Big Ten.[4]

Professional career

External videos
video icon Anthony Walker's NFL Combine Workout
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 0+5⁄8 in
(1.84 m)		 238 lb
(108 kg)		 30+3⁄8 in
(0.77 m)		 9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		4.65 s1.57 s2.67 s4.34 s7.23 s30+1⁄2 in
(0.77 m)		9 ft 8 in
(2.95 m)		23 reps
All values from NFL Scouting Combine[5]

Indianapolis Colts

2017

The Indianapolis Colts selected Walker in the fifth round (161st overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.[6] Walker was the 20th linebacker drafted in 2017.[7]

External videos
video icon Colts draft Anthony Walker 161st overall

On May 11, 2017, the Indianapolis Colts signed Walker to a four-year, $2.66 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $265,413.[8]

Walker missed organized team activities due to Northwestern's quarters schedule and the league's rules on rookies being unable to join their team until their school's final semester had concluded.[9] Upon entering training camp, Walker competed to be a starting inside linebacker against Sean Spence, Antonio Morrison, Jon Bostic, and Edwin Jackson.[10] Head coach Chuck Pagano named Walker a backup inside linebacker to begin the regular season, behind Jon Bostic and Antonio Morrison.[11]

He made his professional regular season debut in the Colts' season-opener at the Los Angeles Rams, but exited in the second quarter of their 46–9 loss after sustaining a hamstring injury.[12] His hamstring injury sidelined him for the next three games (Weeks 2–4). In Week 5, he aggravated his hamstring injury during the third quarter of a 26–23 win against the San Francisco 49ers and was inactive for the next three games (Weeks 6–8).[13] On December 29, 2017, Walker earned his first start after Jon Bostic was ruled inactive due to an injury. He collected a season-high nine combined tackles in the Colts' 23–16 loss at the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16.[14] On December 31, 2017, the Indianapolis Colts fired head coach Chuck Pagano after the Colts finished 4–12 in 2017.[15] He finished his rookie season in 2017 with 22 combined tackles (11 solo) in ten games and two starts.[16]

2018

On February 11, 2018, the Colts hired former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich as their new head coach.[17] Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus opted to change the base 3-4 defense and implemented a base 4-3 defense. Walker entered training camp slated as the starting middle linebacker, but saw competition from Najee Goode.[18] On July 31, 2018, it was reported that Walker had injured his groin in the first week of training camp and was sidelined for the remainder of training camp and all four preseason games.[19] Head coach Frank Reich named Walker the starting middle linebacker to start the regular season in 2018, alongside outside linebackers Najee Goode and rookie Shaquille Leonard.[20]

On September 23, 2018, Walker recorded nine combined tackles and made his first career interception off a pass by Eagles' quarterback Carson Wentz during a 20–16 loss at the Eagles in Week 2.[21]

2019

In Week 13 against the Tennessee Titans, Walker recorded a team high 12 tackles and forced a fumble on running back Derrick Henry on the first play of the game which was recovered by teammate Malik Hooker in the 31–17 loss.[22] In Week 16 against the Carolina Panthers, Walker recorded 10 tackles, sacked rookie quarterback Will Grier once, and intercepted a pass thrown by Grier during the 38–6 win.[23] In Week 17 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Walker recorded a team high 16 tackles during the 38–20 loss.[24]

2020

In Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns, Walker recorded his first interception off a pass thrown by Baker Mayfield during the 32–23 loss.[25] In Week 13 against the Houston Texans, Walker recovered a fumble lost by Deshaun Watson late in the fourth quarter to secure a 26–20 win for the Colts. [26]

Cleveland Browns

On March 19, 2021, Walker signed a one-year deal with the Browns.[27] Walker was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury on September 17, 2021.[28] He was activated on October 9 for Week 5.[29]

On March 16, 2022, Walker re-signed with the Browns on a one-year contract.[30] He suffered a torn quad in Week 3 and was placed on injured reserve on September 23, 2022.[31]

On March 29, 2023, Walker re-signed with the Browns on another one-year contract.[32] He was placed on injured reserve on January 5, 2024.[33] He started 12 games in 2023, recording 44 tackles, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble.

Personal life

Walker wore the number 4 for the Browns until Deshaun Watson was traded to the team in 2022. Watson gave Walker a new Rolex watch in exchange for the number, despite Walker not requesting anything. Following the swap, Walker wore number 5.[34]

NFL career statistics

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsAvgLngTDPDFFFRYdsTD
2017IND 1022211110.01000.00000000
2018IND 151410569361.01011111.011040100
2019IND 161612484402.56100.00021000
2020IND 16169265270.0211111.011050100
2021CLE 998557281.02000.00020000
2022CLE 3313760.00000.00000000
Career73634693051644.5213227.3110131200

References

  1. ↑ "Anthony Walker Jr. Bio". NorthWestern University Football - Official Website.
  2. ↑ "Anthony Walker, Northwestern, Inside Linebacker". 247 Sports. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Anthony Walker College Stats". College Football at Sorts-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  4. ↑ "2016 Big Ten Individual Award Winners" (PDF). www.grfx.cstv.com. Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Anthony Walker Jr. Draft Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  6. ↑ "2017 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  7. ↑ Bowen, Kevin (April 29, 2017). "Colts Draft Northwestern Linebacker Anthony Walker, Jr. In Round Five". Colts.com. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Spotrac.com: Anthony Walker Jr. contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  9. ↑ Hickey, Kevin (July 17, 2017). "Bleacher Report: Sean Spence, Anthony Walker should start at ILB". coltswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Analyzing the Indianapolis Colts' Inside Linebacker Position Battle". indianasportscoverage.com. July 27, 2017. Archived from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  11. ↑ "First Look at the 2017 Colts Regular Season Depth Chart". stampedeblue.com. September 5, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  12. ↑ Hickey, Kevin (September 10, 2017). "Colts' Anthony Walker (hamstring) out vs. Rams". coltswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Colts' Anthony Walker Jr.: Leaves game with hamstring injury". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  14. ↑ "NFL Player stats: Anthony Walker Jr. (2017)". NFL.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Indianapolis Colts fire Chuck Pagano after 4-12 year". NFL.com. December 31, 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  16. ↑ "NFL Player stats: Anthony Walker Jr. (career)". NFL.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Indianapolis Colts hire Frank Reich to be next coach". NFL.com. February 11, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Predicting Who Will Start at Linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts". indianasportscoverage.com. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  19. ↑ "After Missing Most Of Training Camp, Anthony Walker 'Full-Go' For Week 1". Colts.com. September 3, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  20. ↑ Andrew Walker (September 4, 2018). "Colts Release First Unofficial Depth Chart Of 2018 Regular Season". Colts.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  21. ↑ "NFL Player stats: Anthony Walker Jr. (2018)". NFL.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Blocked field goal helps Titans turn table with win at Indy". www.espn.com. December 1, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  23. ↑ "Hines' long returns help send Colts past Carolina 38-6". www.espn.com. Associated Press. December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Minshew, Jaguars close out season with 38-20 win over Colts". www.espn.com. Associated Press. December 29, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
  25. ↑ "Indianapolis Colts at Cleveland Browns - October 11th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans - December 6th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  27. ↑ Gribble, Andrew (March 19, 2021). "Browns sign Anthony Walker, a 'smart, tough' linebacker". ClevelandBrowns.com.
  28. ↑ "Browns place LB Anthony Walker on injured reserve". ClevelandBrowns.com. September 17, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Browns make roster moves". ClevelandBrowns.com. October 9, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Browns agree to terms with LB Anthony Walker Jr., OL Chris Hubbard". ClevelandBrowns.com. March 16, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Browns place LB Anthony Walker Jr. on injured reserve". ClevelandBrowns.com. September 23, 2022.
  32. ↑ Poisal, Anthony (March 29, 2023). "Browns re-sign LB Anthony Walker Jr". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Browns place LB Anthony Walker Jr. on injured reserve". clevelandbrowns.com. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Deshaun Watson Gifts Anthony Walker a Rolex for No. 4 Browns Jersey". syndication.bleacherreport.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
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