Lions safety Tracy Walker wins NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 18

Capping off a very nice season, Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker won NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 18.

The Detroit Lions beat the Green Bay Packers in Week 18, with a some key takeaways by the defense assuring a victory. Safety Tracy Walker had the game-sealing interception late in the fourth quarter, and on Wednesday he was recognized for his overall performance by winning NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Walker also had a career-high 14 tackles in the game against the Packers, putting him at a career-high 108 total tackles for the season in 15 games. That interception was his first and only of the season. He is the first Lions to win Defensive Player of the Week since Darius Slay (Week 14-2018), and he’s the first Lions’ safety to win the award since Glover Quin in 2014.

The Lions had three wins this season, with a Player of the Week award in each of those weeks. Quarterback Jared Goff won NFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 13, and kicker Riley Patterson won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 15.

Tracy Walker now heads into free agency

As a third-round pick in 2018, Walker’s rookie contract is now expired and he’s set to be an unrestricted free agent in March. He has been open about his belief in the direction the Lions are going under the current coaching staff after his bad experience with Matt Patricia, and on Tuesday general manager Brad Holmes made it clear retaining Walker will be a priority this offseason.

“Tracy had already been with us obviously, but a new scheme, a new regime, new coaching staff, and he responded well,” Holmes said. “He really did. I thought he played good football for us and he really bought into everything that we’re doing. I was really happy for him.”