The Pittsburgh Steelers quietly added former Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Mykal Walker on October 30. This was prior to the Steelers losing inside linebacker Cole Holcomb for the year to a knee injury. And it was well ahead of the Steelers losing Kwon Alexander for the year with an Achilles injury the following week.
But now, with Holcomb and Alexander on the shelf for the rest of the year, it could be Walker’s time to shine. When Walker spoke to the media on Monday, he sounded like a guy who is ready to be that next man up.
“I’ve always been that guy who had to wait and scrap and fight to get to the top,” Walker said. “If my opportunity is called, I’ll be ready.”
Walker and fellow practice squad inside linebacker Tariq Carpenter should be on notice that they might get the call this week and going forward. The Steelers only have Elandon Roberts and Mark Robinson on the 53-man roster and have carried four all season. Even if Pittsburgh dives into free agency, Carpenter and Walker are the two guys we expect to see rounding out the depth chart for the rest of the season.
