It’s always risky to read too much into cryptic social media messages, but considering the circumstances, it appears that veteran safety Tracy Walker has seen his final days with the Detroit Lions.
Walker wrote a lengthy Instagram message on Tuesday, thanking everyone for his six years with the organization. It read as follows.
“Detroit I’d like to thank you for inviting me in as a rookie and adopting me as family. I’d like to thank the Ford family for providing me the opportunity to be a part of something remarkable over the past six years. I’d like to thank my followers and supporters for always having my back through it all. I’d like to thank the city for holding down for me. There were many ups and downs, but that’s life, because life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react. With that said, the future seems bright, and TTIME is approaching Year7 faster than ever before. GOD BLESS TIME OUT.
On its own, this does not necessarily read as a farewell. Most people had awaited Walker’s release. Walker slid down the depth chart last season, becoming a gameday inactive for all three Detroit playoff games. Walker is set to receive a large raise in 2024, which would count for more than $12.8 million against the cap. It appears like Walker will be released. If that happens, the Lions will free up $5.5 million in salary space, but he will still be owed more than $7 million in dead cap.
#Lions release S Tracy Walker III. pic.twitter.com/HQDslyuMoX
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) February 20, 2024
Walker was Detroit’s third-round pick in 2018. If this is the conclusion of Walker’s Detroit career, he will have appeared in 79 games (43 starts), had 398 tackles, defended 23 passes, and intercepted three.
