P.J. Walker Is Done: The Journeyman's Long Road Ends After One Brief Seattle Stop

P.J. Walker is retiring from football. The longtime backup quarterback, who cycled through the NFL on practice squads and brief stints as a backup, called it a career this week according to NFL reporter Ari Meirov. For Seahawks fans, Walker was a footnote: he spent training camp with Mike Macdonald's team back in 2024 before getting cut during final roster cuts that August. But his journey from an undrafted kid out of Temple to someone who finally got his chances in the league is worth a quick look back.

A Third-String Life in Seattle

When Macdonald took over as head coach, beefing up the quarterback room was priority one. That's how Walker ended up in Seattle in June 2024 as the third QB on the roster, behind the established guys already on the depth chart. He never made it past training camp. The Seahawks released him in August 2024 during final roster cuts, and he never saw a snap in a Seahawks uniform.

After Seattle let him go, Walker headed north of the border to the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL, landing on their practice squad for the 2024 season. In 2025, he finally got a start and threw for 395 yards and two touchdowns, though he also threw four interceptions. It wasn't enough to keep the dream alive.

Twenty-One Games, One Chance in Seattle

Walker's entire NFL career looked like a practice squad résumé. An undrafted free agent from Temple in 2017, he bounced around: the Colts, the Roughnecks in the XFL where he went 5-0, the Panthers where he got seven starts over three seasons, the Bears, and finally the Browns in 2023. When Cleveland played Seattle that year, Walker went 15-31 with 248 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. It was one of nine total starts he made that season for the Browns.

Over 21 career games, Walker completed 54.6% of his passes for 2,135 yards and six touchdowns against 21 interceptions. He also rushed for 80 yards on 31 carries. Those aren't the numbers of someone who got the chances he deserved, but that's the life of a journeyman in the NFL.

A Different Seahawks Future

The Seahawks moved on quickly after Walker's release. The team carried only two quarterbacks on the 2024 roster and parted ways with both after the season. That opened the door for Sam Darnold to take over as the starter heading into 2025, and the Seahawks won the Super Bowl. Walker will watch from the sidelines now, his playing days officially behind him.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.