Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
With the sting of being cut by a NFL team still fresh, Derel Walker knew two things: He wanted to get on a team as soon as possible and that he was ready to go immediately.
“Well I literally didn’t unpack. I had everything that I had in Tampa,” Walker said over the phone from Edmonton this week. “I made sure everything was organized but everything was still packed up. As soon as I found out I was coming up here I just rolled the bags out and I was good. Everything worked out.”
The 26-year-old receiver missed the first 10 games of the Eskimos’ season this year, after two sensational seasons in green and gold — he had 1,110 yards in 12 games in 2015, then 1,589 in 18 games in 2016 — opened up NFL opportunities for him.
He re-joined the Esks on Tuesday and he’ll start on Saturday against the Calgary Stampeders in the Labour Day rematch.
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After a prolonged NFL tryout in Tampa, Derel Walker makes his 2017 Eskimos debut Saturday (David Chidley/CFL.ca)
It’s a quick transition, going from a pre-season game against Washington on Aug. 31 to playing three-down football in Edmonton against your new/old team’s arch rival on Sept. 9. There’s a lot to learn, but Walker says he’ll be ready by Saturday.
“The only thing is because we’re no huddle, everything’s signal,” Walker said. “Some of the signals changed and I learned some new signals down south.
“I have to get reacquainted with what the signals mean here. I have to learn the playbook and also know the signals. For me, picking it up quick is very good. Also my teammates are going to help me out. We communicate every play, so that’s a bonus, to be able to add to that.”
Walker has rolled those stuffed suitcases into a hotel in Edmonton for now. Before he looks for a new roommate and apartment — he bunked with Shakir Bell the last two years — he’s diving into the playbook. Esks’ OC Carson Walch’s offence is too complicated, and every player is too reliant on the man next to him, to think you can go into the game and rely on football smarts to get you through any uncertainties.
“Of course I’m going to have to study and get everything down pat. I still have a lot of studying to do, and make sure I’m on top of everything for this game,” he said.
With Edmonton loaded up with talented receivers already, Walker’s return could make them the top corps in the CFL. Walker has kept close tabs on the Eskimos this season, even stopping in to watch one of their games from the sideline. He’s excited to get on the field with this group of receivers, and start to reconnect with Mike Reilly the way they did over the last two seasons.
Even in half a season, a lot has changed that Walker will have to pick up in the Esks’ offence (The Canadian Press)
“He’s been playing great the last few years,” Walker said of Reilly. “I’m very, very excited about playing and getting things back on the same track for Saturday and to get things going.
“With a great quarterback like Mike Reilly, the leader that he is, he’s going to make sure everyone’s ready to play.”
Returning to Edmonton should provide a lot of familiarity for him. When he first landed with the Eskimos in 2015, the Stampeders were the team to beat in the CFL. As he heads back into his third Labour Day rematch game, that hasn’t changed. Calgary thumped the Eskimos on holiday Monday, treating them the same way they’ve treated much of the league this year.
“I feel like we’re a great team. As far as beating Calgary, of course it’s a rival and our goal is to beat every opponent we play,” Walker said.
“I look at it as more of how we end up at the end of the season, how we’re playing at the end of the season. I’m just looking forward to seeing how this season goes. We definitely want to make the playoffs and we’re hoping to get to the Grey Cup.”
