A former linebacker of the Pittsburgh Steelers is looking for a new NFL home.
The New York Jets have removed former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Mykal Walker from their injured reserve list with an injury settlement, according to multiple reports.
Walker, 29, suffered a calf injury during training camp this summer that caused him to miss the end of the preseason. He was initially placed on the Jets' injured reserve list at the roster cutdown deadline, but the injury settlement now allows Walker to become a free agent and sign with another team once he recovers.
He originally signed to the Jets practice squad ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the Steelers last season, and he earned himself a larger role as the season went on.
Walker played 15 games for the Jets last season, starting five. He recorded 31 tackles, nine of which were solos, one tackle for loss and one pass defended.
He played for Pittsburgh as one of several stop-gap measures to attempt to plug an injury-riddled defense during the 2023 season. Along with Myles Jack and Blake Martinez , Walker was thrust into a significant role after co-starters Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander both suffered season-ending injuries.
Walker signed to the Steelers practice squad on Oct. 30. Three weeks later, he started against the Cleveland Browns and played 63 snaps of defense alongside Elandon Roberts .
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Mykal Walker in a game against the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 15, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
In total, Walker appeared in eight games and made five starts in the regular season for Pittsburgh, recording 33 tackles, two for a loss, one interception and two passes defended. He also started the team's Wild Card playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills .
Despite the fact that Alexander, Holcomb and Jack did not return to the Steelers in 2024, the team did not re-sign Walker, either, but instead, elected to pair Roberts with Patrick Queen in a big-time free-agent signing from the Baltimore Ravens and 2024 third-round draft pick Payton Wilson .
Walker eventually moved on to the Washington Commanders , where he played in all 17 games and then signed with the Arizona Cardinals .
He began his NFL career as a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons , who he played his first three seasons with. He also had short stints with the Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders in 2023.
Chris Ward contributed.
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