PJ

Walker

Walker spent time with five different NFL teams and took regular season snaps with the Panthers (2020-22) and the Browns (2023). He initially entered the NFL as a 2017 undrafted free agent with the Colts, who kept him on the practice squad through 2019. He was then drafted by the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks in 2020 and parlayed a 1,338/14/5 passing line into a backup gig with the Panthers. He signed on with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders in 2024 and remained with them through the 2025 season. He retires from the NFL, having thrown for 2,135 yards, six touchdowns and 16 interceptions, and run for 80 yards on the ground.

The released means offseason acquisition Sam Howell will serve as the backup quarterback in Seattle behind starter Geno Smith. The former XFL passing yards and touchdown leader will likely garner interest on the open market, although he has been less than stellar when called upon at the NFL level over the previous four seasons. Walker does possess interesting dual threat upside with his legs but would likely require an optimal landing spot to unleash that upside.

Walker took the field in six games for the Browns last year, throwing for 674 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions via an underwhelming 48.6% completion rate. Walker is unlikely to threaten No. 2 quarterback Sam Howell’s role but can helpfully serve as a mentor, having bounced around the league since 2017.

DTR was seen on crutches after injuring his hip Sunday against the Texans. He’s done for the season. Thompson-Robinson had mixed in on some short yardage plays during Joe Flacco’s starts for Cleveland. P.J. Walker will likely back up Flacco during the final couple weeks of the regular season and into the playoffs, if the Browns make it.

Joe Flacco was elevated to the 53-man roster once again and is in line to make his second start of the year. With rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson taking the backup gig, the Browns didn’t have a need for Walker and moved on from him. He could resurface on the team’s practice squad once Flacco is signed to the active roster. Before that can happen, Walker will pass through waivers, giving other teams the option to pick up his contract.

DTR suffered a concussion in Week 12 and was unable to return to Cleveland’s eventual loss to the Broncos. P.J. Walker took over once again and threw for 56 scoreless yards on 13 attempts. Cleveland has Joe Flacco on their practice squad. The veteran passer will almost certainly be called up this week with DTR looking unlikely to play. The big question will be whether Kevin Stefanski goes with Walker or Flacco as his starter. Walker has been dreadful this year, but he knows the system better than Flacco, who joined the team just 10 days ago. We will get more clarity on the situation as the week moves on.

Walker entered the game to start the fourth quarter in relief of rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who left to be evaluated for a concussion following a hard hit to the head. Walker did little to instill confidence as he appears likely to start for the Browns in Week 13 against Rams, that is, unless the team decides it is time to place their season in the hands of veteran Joe Flacco, who was signed to the practice squad earlier in the week.

It’s quite the surprise as the Browns essentially bench P.J. Walker after Deshaun Watson (shoulder) was declared out for the remainder of the season. Walker has been among the least accurate passers this season, but Thompson-Robinson — a fifth-round rookie — was abominable in his lone 2023 start against the Ravens in Week 4. He completed 53 percent of his attempts for 153 scoreless yards and three interceptions against Baltimore. DTR had four rushes for 24 yards in a blowout loss. Amari Cooper has one catch on six targets for 16 yards that day. DTR told Cabot he has improved since then. We’ll see in Week 11 against a shutdown Steelers defense.

Watson’s lingering shoulder issue — now described as a broken bone — will cost him the season’s final seven games. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said Watson “wanted to be shot up and play through the injuries, but doctors told Watson his shoulder would “fall apart” if he were hit there again. Watson’s ever-evolving shoulder injury is a blow to the Browns as they seek a postseason berth in the hyper-competitive AFC North. Watson’s season ends with seven touchdown passes and four interceptions to go along with 142 rushing yards and another score. He was 23rd among quarterbacks in EPA per drop back. The team has now paid Watson nearly $91 million for 11 games over the past two seasons. P.J. Walker, among the league’s most inaccurate passers, will take over as Cleveland’s starter. It’s a downgrade for Amari Cooper and the rest of the team’s pass catchers.

Watson returned to practice for a limited session on Wednesday, though his status for Week 9 remains up in the air. Walker has appeared in three games this season, two of which were starts. He has been an outright disaster under center, throwing one touchdown and five interceptions while averaging 6.4 yards per throw. A matchup with the Cardinals could help stabilize the offense for a week, but Cleveland will struggle to put up points until Watson returns and is fully healthy.