It’s been a long time coming for P.J. Walker.
The former NFL starter remarked at Stampeders media day earlier this week that it feels like it’s been a long time since he put on a game day uniform.
While he’s been dressing in a Stamps practice jersey for the time he’s been in Calgary (a couple of weeks at the end of October 2024 when he joined the club’s practice roster and over a week now during training camp), it was the first time in over 530 days that the signal caller donned game threads.
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His last time out taking reps in a game came with the Cleveland Browns against former Stamp Alex Singleton and the Denver Broncos on Nov. 26, 2023, when he filled in for the injured Dorian Thompson-Robinson during the fourth quarter.
The last time he played majority of the snaps in a game came about a month earlier when he relieved Deshaun Watson after the first quarter in a Week 7 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. With the help of Myles Garrett and the rest of the Browns defence who forced four turnovers, Walker helped the Dawgs to a 39-38 win.
He drove the length of the field with under 2:27 to go, connecting on passes with David Njoku and Elijah Moore until finally setting up the game-winning touchdown on a fourth-and-goal play to Kareem Hunt leaving barely any time left on the clock for Gardner Minshew on the opposing sideline to work with.
M🎱🎱RE football to play!
PJ threading the needle 🪡 pic.twitter.com/csWP1HmDan
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) October 22, 2023
Now, Walker gets the chance to tie up the laces once more as Monday’s pre-season tilt with the Lions in Langford, B.C. approaches.
Although the amount of playing time the 30-year-old receives in the exhibition matchup remains uncertain, he’s ready for his number to be called.
“I’m excited,” Walker said with a grin. “I’m thankful, honestly, just to even do it.
“For the most part I just want to go out there and execute, play at a high level and just try to be consistent.
“The hardest part about this right now is just the transition, trying to get my eyes together, trying to put them all in the right places. For me it’s just taking it one day at a time and let tomorrow’s worries take care of itself.”
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Even though the Canadian game is still new to the New Jersey native, it appears at training camp that he’s adapting to the CFL style quite quickly.
During the off-season, the Temple alum got to work catching up to speed on how football is played in the north, forcing his receivers to run the waggle in order to help get adjusted. He also worked out with Bo Levi Mitchell in Carolina, and who better to seek out advice from than the man who spent a decade of his career with the Stamps, winning two Grey Cup championships plus league-MOP and led the CFL in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32) just last season.
Walker’s been applying what he’s learned this week and has made some incredible throws, zipping the ball into tight windows and finding receivers open deep down field. He’s also proven to make smart decisions, dumping the pass in the flat when the deep ball is covered and escaping the pocket when the pass isn’t there at all.
“I’m catching on quick,” he agreed. “I continue to try to eliminate the small mistakes that I make out here. I know they’re going to happen; it’s part of the game but for me I just try to execute at a high level.
“I’m excited to even be out here on the football field and get the opportunities that I’m getting. Coming out here with the right energy and the right mindset.”
All that’s left is to put on that red helmet and jersey, a colour combination that takes Walker right back to his roots.
“The Elizabeth colours, it feels great,” he said of wearing the familiar dress code from where he grew up in New Jersey. “I feel like I’m home, honestly.
“I think it’s cool and I’m looking forward to seeing myself in that all red when it’s game time.”
Kickoff against the Leos goes at 2 p.m. MT on Victoria Monday and is available for streaming on CFL+. Fans can also listen to the radio broadcast on QR Calgary.
Then, the Stampeders return home for their first game at McMahon Stadium in 2025, when their provincial rival Edmonton Elks take a trip down the QEII for their final pre-season contest.