The Washington Commanders have signed former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Mykal Walker, the team announced on Tuesday. The Steelers promoted Mykal Walker from the practice squad to the 53-man roster before the club’s Week 11 game against the Cleveland Browns, and he would go on to be a contributor down the stretch amid injuries.
Walker started alongside Elandon Roberts, once the Steelers lost both Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander for the rest of the season. Holcomb was lost for the year to a knee injury in Week 9. Alexander is out for the season after an Achilles injury
That left the Steelers with just two linebackers on the active roster before they promoted Walker, whose signing to the practice squad three weeks allowed him to put some tape out there for teams before hitting free agency. Eventually, Myles Jack would work into that rotation.
Walker was released by the Atlanta Falcons last summer and claimed by the Chicago Bears. Then, Walker was released during cut-downs by Chicago and has not caught on elsewhere. A fourth-round pick in 2020 out of Fresno State, Walker is a veteran with plenty of playing experience.
Over his three years in Atlanta, he racked up 187 tackles, two forced fumbles, three interceptions, and one sack. In those years, he started 20 games for the Falcons.