P. J. Walker
refer to caption
Walker with the Panthers in 2021
No. 10 – Cleveland Browns
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1995-02-26) February 26, 1995
Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:Elizabeth
College:Temple (2013–2016)
Undrafted:2017
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • Midseason All-XFL Team (2020)
  • XFL passing yards leader (2020)
  • XFL passing touchdowns leader (2020)
NFL record
  • Longest recorded air completion in Next Gen Stats era (since 2016): 67.6 yards[1]
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2023
Passing attempts:339
Passing completions:185
Completion percentage:54.6%
TD–INT:6–16
Passing yards:2,135
Passer rating:60.0
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Phillip "P. J." Walker Jr. (born February 26, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Temple, and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts in 2017. He also played for the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL in 2020, leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns before it suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early years

Walker was born in 1995 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to parents Tamicha Drake and Phillip Walker Sr. Walker attended Elizabeth High School. During his junior year, Walker threw for 2,168 yards and 18 touchdowns, while going 120-of-189 (63.5 percent) in passing percentage. Following the completion of his high school career, Walker chose to attend Temple University, under head coach Matt Rhule.[2]

College career

After accepting an athletic scholarship to attend Temple University, Walker played for coach Matt Rhule's Temple Owls team from 2013 to 2016.

2013 season

Walker began his collegiate career as a backup to Connor Reilly. Walker would eventually earn the starting spot at quarterback in week 6 against Cincinnati, where he would throw his first collegiate touchdown.[3] Walker obtained his first win of his career in week 7 against Army, by a score of 33–14.[4] He would receive his first collegiate weekly award (QB of the week – CFPA – honorable mention) following a 59–49 loss to SMU in week 9.[5] In the final week of the season, Walker earned American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week and was a finalist for the Manning Award.[6] Walker would finish his freshman year having started 7 out of 12 games.

2014 season

Walker's sophomore season did not include as many highlights as his 2013 debut performance; however, Walker did earn career-high completions (29) and pass attempts (49) in a losing effort against Navy in Week 2.[7] Walker was able to secure three honorable mentions during the season (Weeks 1, 2 and 4) and passed for at least 1 touchdown in his first seven games.

2015 season

Walker would start every game in his junior year, becoming only the third person to do so in Owl history. In a rare feat, Walker would both throw for and receive a pass in two two-point conversion attempts in Week 8 in a winning effort against UCF.[8] Walker would lead the Owls to a 10–4 overall record (7–1 in conference play), earning a bid to the Boca Raton Bowl in losing effort against the Toledo Rockets by a score of 17–32. He finished the season with a school record 2,972 passing yards and tied the record for total offense (rushing and passing) with 3,179 yards.

2016 season

Walker (#8) with Temple in 2016

Walker's final year at Temple was a record-setting season for the senior. In the season opener against Army, Walker became Temple's all-time passing yards leader (10,273 yards).[9] Walker would again lead the Owls to a bowl game at the end of the season, following a 10–4 overall record (8–0 in conference); Walker and the Owls would lose the Military Bowl 26–34 against Wake Forest. Additionally, Walker would receive numerous honors, accolades and watch-list nominations in the 2016 season, including American Athletic Conference Championship Game Most Outstanding Player, CFPA National Player of the Year Watch List, Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, as well as multiple preseason and conference recognitions.[10]

Records

Walker is the Owls all-time leader in wins by a starting quarterback (28), passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions, attempts, total yards and total touchdowns. Walker led the Owls to their first conference title in 49 years (2016) and their first ever back-to-back bowl appearances in school history (2015 and 2016).

College statistics

Season Team Passing Rushing
CmpAttPctYdsY/ATDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
2013Temple 15225060.82,0848.3208150.8903323.73
2014Temple 20338153.32,3176.11315107.81063243.13
2015Temple 24543256.72,9726.9198125.3802152.72
2016Temple 23039558.23,2958.32213140.165−100−1.51
Career8301,45856.910,6687.37444129.13417712.39

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jump
5 ft 11+1⁄4 in
(1.81 m)		 214 lb
(97 kg)		 31+3⁄8 in
(0.80 m)		 9+1⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		4.74 s1.56 s2.72 s4.40 s6.90 s29.5 in
(0.75 m)		9 ft 3 in
(2.82 m)
All values from Temple Pro Day[11]

Indianapolis Colts

On May 3, 2017, Walker was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent.[12] He was waived on September 2, 2017 and was signed to the Colts' practice squad the next day.[13][14] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Colts on January 1, 2018.[15] On September 1, 2018, Walker was waived by the Colts and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[16][17] He spent time on and off the Colts practice squad before being released on December 26, 2018, but was re-signed three days later.[18][19] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 13, 2019.[20] On August 31, 2019, Walker was waived and signed to the practice squad the next day, only to be released two days later.[21][22]

Houston Roughnecks

In October 2019, Walker was drafted by the newly-formed XFL for the 2020 season. The Pittsburgh Steelers called the XFL office to ask if they could sign Walker in October 2019, but was blocked as he was already under contract with the league.[23] He was then allocated to the Houston Roughnecks prior to the 2020 XFL Draft.[24]

In the Roughnecks' first game against the Los Angeles Wildcats, Walker tossed four touchdowns, helping the team win a 37–17 victory.[25] He was named the league's first ever Star of the Week for his performance.[26]

Walker's final game of the 2020 campaign was marked by some controversy after, while his team was leading the Seattle Dragons 32–23, he mistakenly kneeled on fourth down at his own 21-yard-line with three seconds remaining on the clock – officials either failed to notice or refused to deal with Walker's palpable timing error and declared the game over, thus depriving Seattle the opportunity to score a touchdown and potential three-point conversion to tie the game.[27] The league later admitted it was a mistake, but declared that the result would stand.

On March 20, 2020, the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Walker finished the 2020 season with a 5–0 record, 1,338 passing yards and 15 touchdowns with four interceptions. He led the league in both passing touchdowns and passing yards.[28] He was placed on the reserve/other league list after signing with the Carolina Panthers in March, which was later terminated after the league had fully suspended operations on April 10, 2020.[29][30]

Carolina Panthers

Walker playing the Atlanta Falcons in 2021

On March 25, 2020, Walker signed a two-year contract with the Panthers worth up to $1.5 million, reuniting him with former Temple head coach Matt Rhule.[31] On October 29, 2020, Walker came in for the Panthers during the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons after an injury to Teddy Bridgewater. When playing, Walker only threw one pass completion for three yards to Robby Anderson in his four pass attempts[32] and was benched once Bridgewater was ready to play again. After Bridgewater injured his right knee in the fourth quarter of the Panthers' Week 10 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Walker finished the game, throwing for two completions and 12 yards. With Bridgewater remaining injured, Walker made his first NFL start the following week and threw for 258 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in a 20–0 win.[33]

On January 10, 2022, Walker re-signed with the Panthers.[34] Walker began to get playing time following Baker Mayfield's injury in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers.[35] In Week 7, Walker threw for 177 yards and two touchdowns in a 21–3 win over the Buccaneers.[36] In the Week 8 game against the Atlanta Falcons, Walker completed a 64–yard touchdown pass to receiver D. J. Moore that would’ve essentially sealed the game for Carolina. However, due to Moore taking his helmet off and drawing a flag, the game went into overtime after kicker Eddy Piñeiro missed the PAT, although it was later determined that no flag should have been thrown because Moore was already off the field.[37] The Panthers would go on to lose the game 34-37 in overtime.

Chicago Bears

On March 16, 2023, Walker signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Bears.[38] On August 27, 2023, he was released by the team.[39]

Cleveland Browns

On August 30, 2023, Walker was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad.[40] He was elevated to the active roster on September 30 ahead of the Browns Week 4 game against the Baltimore Ravens.[41] Walker was again elevated to the active roster and named the starter for the Browns' Week 6 game against the San Francisco 49ers following an injury to Deshaun Watson.[42] In his first start, Walker led the Browns to victory over San Francisco with a final score of 19–17. In Week 7, Walker entered the game again due to an injury to Watson, throwing for 178 yards and leading the Browns to a 39–38 last-minute win over the Colts. On October 25, the Browns signed him to their active roster.[43] He was waived by the Browns on December 9, and re-signed to the practice squad four days later.[44][45] On December 26, Walker was signed to the active roster.[46]

Career statistics

Legend
Led the league
Bold League career high

XFL career statistics

Year Team Passing Rushing Sacked
CmpAttPctYdsY/ALngTDIntRtgAttYdsY/ALngTDSckYds
2020HOU 11918465.01,3387.384154104.424994.1281639
Career11918465.01,3387.384154104.424994.1281639

NFL career statistics

Year Team Games Passing Rushing Sacked Fumbles
GPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsY/ALngTDIntRtgAttYdsY/ALngTDSckYdsFumLost
2017IND Did not play
2018IND
2019IND
2020CAR 411–0325657.13686.6521545.85−2−0.42043110
2021CAR 511–0366654.53625.5241356.57131.913074731
2022CAR 652–36310659.47316.9623378.06396.520074600
2023CLE 621–15411148.66746.1581552.213302.390119042
Career2195–418533954.62,1356.36261660.031802.62002921483

References

  1. ↑ Newton, David. "Patrick Mahomes calls PJ Walker's 62-yarder 'best throw of the year,' but Panthers aren't surprised". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Elizabeth's Walker, Blair's Pretlow commit to Temple". NJ.com. June 22, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Temple vs Cincinnati – Box Score". Temple University. 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Army vs Temple – Box Score". Temple University. 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  5. ↑ "QB of the week – CFPA – honorable mention". CollegeFootballPerformanc.com. 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Manning Award Stars of the Week, 2013". AllStateSugarBowl.org. 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Army vs. Temple – Box Score". Temple University. 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Temple vs. UCF – Box Score". Temple University. 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Army vs. Temple – Box Score". Temple University. 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Phillip Walker – Temple Bio". Temple University. 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Phillip Walker, Temple, QB, 2017 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  12. ↑ Bowen, Kevin (May 4, 2017). "Who Are The Colts 18 Undrafted Free Agents In 2017?". Colts.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  13. ↑ Walker, Andrew (September 2, 2017). "Colts Announce Final 2017 Roster Cuts". Colts.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017.
  14. ↑ Walker, Andrew (September 3, 2017). "Colts Add Seven To Initial 2017 Practice Squad". Colts.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Colts Sign Eight Players To Reserve/Future Contracts". Colts.com. January 1, 2018. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018.
  16. ↑ Walker, Andrew (September 1, 2018). "Colts Announce Final 2018 Roster Cuts". Colts.com.
  17. ↑ Walker, Andrew (September 2, 2018). "Colts Sign Five To Practice Squad". Colts.com.
  18. ↑ "Roster Moves: Colts Bring Back TE Erik Swoope To Practice Squad". Colts.com. December 26, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Roster Moves: Colts Promote CB Jalen Collins To Active Roster; Sign QB Phillip Walker To Practice Squad". Colts.com. December 29, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  20. ↑ Hickey, Kevin (January 13, 2019). "Colts sign 9 players to futures contracts". USAToday.com. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  21. ↑ Walker, Andrew (August 31, 2019). "Colts Announce Final 2019 Roster Cuts". Colts.com. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  22. ↑ Gantt, Darin (September 1, 2019). "Colts bring back Phillip Walker to practice squad". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  23. ↑ Bassinger, Thomas (December 11, 2019). "XFL Q&A: Oliver Luck on lessons learned, Colin Kaepernick and sports betting". TampaBay.com. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  24. ↑ Florio, Mike (October 15, 2019). "XFL announces its eight allocated quarterbacks". Profootballtalk.com. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  25. ↑ "Defenders, Roughnecks earn first wins of XFL season". NFL.com. February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Walker named Star of the Week for Week 1". www.xfl.com. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  27. ↑ Lyons, Dan (March 8, 2020). "XFL Reassigns Official After Blunder That Cost Team Chance To Tie Game". The Spun. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  28. ↑ Payne, Scotty (March 21, 2020). "Report: Broncos are interested in XFL star quarterback P.J. Walker". Mile High Report. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  29. ↑ "XFL Transactions". XFL.com. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  30. ↑ Condotta, Bob (April 10, 2020). "XFL suspends operations, terminates all employees, but Jim Zorn says he has hopes league will continue". SeattleTimes.com. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Panthers sign quarterback P.J. Walker". Panthers.com. March 25, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  32. ↑ "XFL MVP QB PJ Walker Enters Game For Carolina Panthers". xflnewshub.com. October 29, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  33. ↑ Patra, Kevin (November 22, 2020). "Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater (knee) inactive vs. Lions; P.J. Walker to start". NFL.com. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  34. ↑ Callihan, Schuyler (January 10, 2022). "Report: Panthers Re-Sign QB P.J. Walker". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  35. ↑ Owens, Jason (October 10, 2022). "Baker Mayfield has high-sprained ankle pain, expected to miss time". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  36. ↑ Stone, Augusta (October 23, 2022). "P.J. Walker makes a strong statement in Panthers win". Carolina Panthers. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  37. ↑ Williams, Madison (October 31, 2022). "NFL Rules Expert Says Panthers' DJ Moore Shouldn't Have Been Penalized". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  38. ↑ "Roster Move: Bears agree to terms with QB P.J. Walker". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Bears releasing QB P.J. Walker". Chicago Sun-Times. August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Browns claim CB Kahlef Hailassie and add 15 to practice squad". ClevelandBrowns.com. August 30, 2023.
  41. ↑ Florio, Mike. "With Deshaun Watson questionable, Browns elevate QB P.J. Walker to active roster". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  42. ↑ Murphy, Bryan. "Where is Deshaun Watson? Why P.J. Walker is starting for Browns in Week 6 instead of injured franchise QB". Sporting News. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Browns sign QB P.J. Walker to the active roster". ClevelandBrowns.com. October 25, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  44. ↑ "Browns activate CB Cameron Mitchell from injured reserve, elevate QB Joe Flacco". ClevelandBrowns.com. December 9, 2023.
  45. ↑ Kinnan, Cory. "Report: Browns bring back P.J. Walker to the practice squad". Browns Wire. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  46. ↑ Roach, Jacob. "Report: Browns sign QB P.J. Walker to active roster as Dorian Thompson-Robinson injures hip". Browns Wire. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
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