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A former linebacker of the Pittsburgh Steelers have found a new home in the NFL.
The New York Jets are signing former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Mykal Walker to their practice squad, according to Connor Long of Jets X-Factor.
Walker, 29, was released by the Jets in September with an injury settlement after suffering a calf injury during training camp this summer that caused him to miss the end of the preseason. He was initially placed on the injured reserve list at the roster cutdown deadline.
Walker originally signed to the Jets practice squad ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the Steelers last season, and he earned himself a larger role as the season went on.
He played 15 games for the Jets last season, starting five. He recorded 31 tackles, nine of which were solos, one tackle for loss and one pass defended.
Walker played for Pittsburgh as one of several stop-gap measures to attempt to plug an injury-riddled defense during the 2023 season. Along with Myles Jack and Blake Martinez, Walker was thrust into a significant role after co-starters Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander both suffered season-ending injuries.
He signed to the Steelers practice squad on Oct. 30. Three weeks later, he started against the Cleveland Browns and played 63 snaps of defense alongside Elandon Roberts.
In total, Walker appeared in eight games and made five starts in the regular season for Pittsburgh, recording 33 tackles, two for a loss, one interception and two passes defended. He also started the team’s Wild Card playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Despite the fact that Alexander, Holcomb and Jack did not return to the Steelers in 2024, the team did not re-sign Walker, either, but instead, elected to pair Roberts with Patrick Queen in a big-time free-agent signing from the Baltimore Ravens and 2024 third-round draft pick Payton Wilson.
Walker eventually moved on to the Washington Commanders, where he played in all 17 games and then signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
He began his NFL career as a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, who he played his first three seasons with. He also had short stints with the Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders in 2023.