When his then-teammates were gearing up for the NFL playoffs a few months back, linebacker Anthony Walker was hospitalized, fighting an infection that he feared would cost him his football career — if not worse.
Little about Walker’s health scare was known as the Cleveland Browns closed out their 2023 season. But Walker, a recent free agent pickup for the Miami Dolphins, went into detail about his medical issue during a Zoom call with South Florida reporters Tuesday.
Injury Update for Miami Dolphins LB Anthony Walker
Walker, a team captain who relayed the Browns’ defensive play calls to his on-field teammates, started 12 of Cleveland’s first 13 games at linebacker in 2023.
But he played just one game the rest of the season — an inactive stretch that included the Browns’ playoff loss to the Texans — with what the team called a knee injury.
What wasn’t known until now: Walker, who signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in recent days, was hospitalized with a pretty gnarly infection that he worried might cost him his career. The infection was related to the torn quadriceps tear that cost him most of the 2022 season.
Walker said at first, he thought “it wasn’t anything significant. I didn’t think it was or the team didn’t think it was.
“We thought it was soreness or whatever. It ended up being a low-grade infection or something inside the knee. No structural damage, but more so just have to clean it out, antibiotics and all that stuff.”
The cause of the infection was a mystery, but it didn’t take long for Walker to realize it was more serious than he initially thought.
“I was hospitalized for a good while,” he said Tuesday. “I had no idea. I didn’t know what it was. You think the worst, right? You know, you think like, ‘Man, will I be able to play the game again?’ [And] even worse than that.
“My dad was there with me the whole time. I really appreciate him for that. The team, my teammates, my coaches and everybody kept me in high spirits. The doctors were great and everything like that. So I am very fortunate that it was only a low-grade infection, and I can continue playing football. But yeah, definitely scary moments, for sure.”
Walker added that he’s made a full recovery and is able to go through his normal offseason workout regimen this winter.
How Walker Fits on the Dolphins
Walker, a South Florida native whose father, Anthony Sr., is the head coach locally at Monsignor Pace, was desperate to escape the Midwest winters during his recent free agency. So it was easy for him to come home.
He helps complete one of the league’s more talented linebacker groups, with David Long Jr. and Jordyn Brooks also in his room.
Walker’s early scouting report on Anthony Weaver’s defense?
“I think [the Dolphins] rush the passer really well,” he said. “You got two elite pass rushers. Obviously, you lose [Christian Wilkins] in the middle. But again, a lot of talent up front, a lot of talent in the defensive back room, linebacker room.
“David Long, one of my guys, I’ve known him for a very long time. I played against him, against him. You know, he played in Tennessee, and I played for Indy. So we’ve grown a relationship with him over the years. I know he is excited for another opportunity to go out there and play.
“Jordyn Brooks, another key addition. Been watching him for years and in Seattle [he] played really well.
“So I think the team itself is loaded with talent, but that only goes so far. I think I’ve been a part of talented teams in Cleveland and Indy and, you know, we just haven’t been able to put it all together. That’s the challenge of football, right? Can you put it all together? You can have all the talent in the world, but can you just put it all together?”
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