NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On the eve of Week 9 in the NFL and the Titans' official day off, there's one more midseason award to be given out to the team's offensive player of the year through the first eight weeks.
If you're late to the party, here's a recap of who received my first three honors.
Midseason Defensive Rookie MVP: Avery Williamson – LB
Midseason Offensive Rookie MVP: Taylor Lewan – OT
Midseason Defensive MVP: Jurrell Casey – DT
The final honor goes to tight end Delanie Walker, who has caught a team-leading 35 passes (tied with Kendall Wright) for 475 yards and four touchdowns. Walker has been targeted a team-leading 58 times.
Walker carried the offense at the onset of the season with touchdowns in three of Tennessee's first four games. In those four games, Walker racked up 22 receptions for 317 yards and the three scores.
Walker's standout season to date was highlighted by his marquee performance against the Dallas Cowboys in Tennessee's home opener Week 2. In that game, Walker posted career highs with 10 catches for 142 yards. A 61-yard touchdown was also a career long for Walker, who caught a pass deep down the left sideline, bounced off a Cowboys defensive back, and then ran away from the rest of the Dallas defense on his way to the end zone.
Last week against the Texans, Walker caught Zach Mettenberger's first career touchdown pass from six yards out.
After catching a career-high 60 passes for 571 yards and six touchdowns in his first year in Tennessee, Walker is on pace to shatter those marks in 2014. The tight end's first eight games have him on pace for 70 catches, 950 yards and eight touchdowns – all of which would set new club standards by a tight end (70 receptions would tie Frank Wycheck's franchise mark).
Honorable Mention: Kendall Wright – WR
Wright is tied for the team lead with 35 receptions and four touchdowns and ranks third in receiving yards with 351. The numbers aren't pacing towards Wright's big 2013 campaign when he hauled in 94 passes for 1,079 yards, but the third-year has still been the team's most consistent wide receiver.
Wright had his biggest game in Week 5 against the Browns, catching six passes for 47 yards and two touchdowns. His four touchdowns this season are tied with the career high he set during his rookie season in 2012.
