April 18, 2017
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
Eagles seventh-round pick Joe Walker could be a long-term contributor as a special teams player and reserve linebacker.
This offseason, I've gotten an abnormal number of questions about Philadelphia Eagles DE Alex McCalister and LB Joe Walker, both of whom were seventh-round picks a year ago who missed their rookie seasons due to injury.
Walker's injury was a torn ACL, while McCalister's "injury" was, um, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
During the NFL Annual Meetings in Phoenix, personnel head Joe Douglas commented on McCalister, noting essentially that McCalister is doing stuff and the Eagles are excited. It was a Pulitzer-worthy blog post.
Walker was looking like a Jim Schwartz favorite during 2016 training camp who was going to make the team had he not torn his ACL. He should be back in 2017 as a backup middle linebacker to Jordan Hicks as well as a special teams contributor.
On Tuesday, Hicks was asked about Walker and his recovery from that torn ACL.
"You can really learn a lot from being hurt," said Hicks. "I know first hand. You can learn a lot being on the sideline, having a third-eye view on everything that's going on. I think Joe did a great job of staying connected, staying in the film room, staying engaged in meetings, doing a great job of watching film. I think he's taken a step, as far as physical-wise, he's doing great right now, working out, looking strong, doing a great job in the weight room, and moving around a little bit."
So for those of you who have asked about McCalister and Walker, you now have your riveting updates.
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