NASHVILLE – Titans tight end Delanie Walker made the sign of the cross and pointed to the sky as he took the field on Saturday night at Nissan Stadium.
The three-time Pro Bowler was glad to be back.
"It felt good just to be out there and get that old feeling back," Walker said. "I never doubted it."
Walker was a welcome sight for fans – and quarterback Marcus Mariota – after missing all of last season with a broken ankle.
And in his first game back, Walker reminded everyone just how valuable he is to the Titans.
Walker caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Mariota on the team's third series of the game, and the ensuing two-point conversion gave the Titans an 8-0 lead in the first quarter of Saturday night's eventual 22-17 loss to the New England Patriots.
"I was sitting here, and I was probably in a daze just visualizing catching that touchdown pass," Walker said, "and it happened."
Walker had two catches for 26 yards in the game before trading in his helmet for a baseball cap.
Walker broke his ankle in Week One at Miami last season, ending his 2018 season. He was placed on Injured Reserve and spent months rehabbing the injury.
Walker was back in the field for the start of training camp, however, and looks ready to go for the 2019 season. Walker did not play in the preseason opener at Philadelphia last week.
"It's nice seeing 82 out there," Mariota said. "It is a privilege to play with someone like that. We have been together for five years and that guy continues to make plays day in and day out. He makes my job easier."
