Raiders Face Lions' Underrated Safety Walker III
The Las Vegas Raiders will face a tough road test as they take on the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Monday Night Football.
The Lions have been one of the best teams in the NFL this season, as Coach Dan Campbell has done a remarkable job rebuilding the team and creating a culture the team has bought into.
Detroit has beaten its opponents on both sides of the ball, featuring an explosive offense and a hard-hitting, aggressive defense. Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson and Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn were popular head coaching candidates last offseason and should be again this offseason.
One player who has been an intricate piece of Glenn’s defensive unit has been safety Tracy Walker III, a third-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Louisiana.
The Detroit LIons safety Tracy Walker is a weapon for MCDC (Dan Campbell) that can't be ignored.
Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK
Throughout his career, Walker has posted 368 total tackles, 15 tackles for losses, 23 passes defended and three interceptions. He has two seasons of more than 100 tackles.
In 2022, Walker signed a three-year, $25-million contract extension with the Lions but tore an Achilles tendon after only three games.
Walker is healthy and has been playing at a high level for the Lions’ defense this season. Through seven games, he has 29 total tackles, two passes defended and a forced fumble. According to Pro Football Focus, Walker has been targeted 15 times and has allowed only eight completions for 65 yards.
Walker is a rangy, hard-hitting safety who defends the run well and can shut opponents down in coverage. He has been a bright spot for a Lions’ secondary that has seen significant injuries to players like Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
Walker did not play in the Lions’ loss to the Raiders in 2019, so he will face the Silver and Black for the first time in his career on Monday Night Football.
The Raiders have struggled on offense this season, and the Lions’ defense will be a difficult match-up. The Lions have been excellent at stopping the run this season, partly due to Walker’s play, and the Raiders have not been able to run the ball effectively.
Coach Josh McDaniels and the Raiders must find ways to move the ball, but Walker will do his best to prevent that from happening.
The Silver and Black will stay on the road to take on the Detroit Lions on Monday night, Oct. 30, at 8:15 p.m. EDT/5:15 p.m. PDT.
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