The Calgary Stampeders made a big splash on Tuesday, signing longtime NFL quarterback P.J. Walker to the practice roster. The 29-year-old has been a free agent since August when he was released by the Seattle Seahawks and though he hasn’t given up hope on returning south, it appears his long-term future could be in Cowtown.
“As long as the opportunities presented themselves in the NFL, I was always going to take those opportunities and — not saying they still can’t present themselves — but I really do want to play, I really do want to go out there and try to help the team win and contribute as much as I can,” Walker told the media in Calgary. “I think that took a lot of the decision-making for me to come down here.”
Walker’s family, which includes a seven-month-old daughter, Aubrey, has joined him in Calgary to get the lay of the land. Though the team has already been eliminated from playoff contention and has only three games remaining in the regular season, this doesn’t seem like a standard late-year flier. From the outside looking in, this looks like an audition for Walker to become the team’s starting quarterback in 2025.
“For us to come down here as a family, we’ll see what’s possible to come for the next couple years or whatever it is, whatever comes with it,” said Walker. “It’s just to come out here and see it and get the experience as well.”
Head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson revealed that the Stampeders acquired the rights to Walker a few weeks ago in a trade with the Toronto Argonauts that wasn’t announced publicly. Sources have indicated to 3DownNation that the Stampeders gave up two negotiation list players and a conditional draft pick to acquire the quarterback’s rights. The conditions surrounding the draft pick have to do with whether or not Walker becomes Calgary’s starter in the future.
A source also indicated that Walker turned down a contract offer from the Argonauts because didn’t want to join a team with a starting quarterback under a long-term contract. It appears as though he felt Calgary represented a better avenue to becoming a franchise quarterback in the CFL.
Jake Maier, the team’s current starting quarterback, isn’t under contract for next season and was pulled from the club’s recent loss against the B.C. Lions after committing two late turnovers. Maier was also benched for the second half of Calgary’s annual Labour Day home-and-home against the Edmonton Elks in favour of Logan Bonner, who threw five interceptions in a 37-16 loss.
Though he didn’t officially declare his starter for this week’s game, Dickenson hinted that CFL journeyman Matthew Shiltz, who signed with the Stampeders this past off-season but was hurt for much of the year, could get the nod.
Players who finish the year on the practice roster immediately become free agents, so it stands to reason the Stampeders will work to sign Walker to an extension if they like what they see over the next few weeks.
Walker said he’s unsure if he’ll get the opportunity to play between now and the end of the season but Dickenson believes there could be.
“I think there’s a possibility (Walker will play before the year is done),” he said. “But I also want him and all of us to get to know each other, see what he’s about. We want to put the best team on the field to win.”
“I do think he’s a good player — he can move, he can throw, he’s confident, he’s had success. It’s like a lot of guys, though, he’s probably looking for a home. I think he’s been playing seven years professionally — you just want to find a spot that you can fit in at.”
“He’s just a guy that, for me, I needed to look at, and I’m glad he’s at least given us that opportunity and we’ll see where it goes from there.”
Walker has no previous CFL experience but isn’t a total stranger to his new team, having previously been a teammate of Marken Michel, Ishmael Hyman, and Tommy Stevens with the Carolina Panthers. The native of Elizabeth, N.J. threw for 2,135 yards, six touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 21 career NFL games, going 5-4 as a starter as a member of the Panthers and Cleveland Browns.
Though it’s too early to make any bold predictions, it doesn’t seem farfetched to think Walker could soon be back in a starting role — this time with the Stampeders.
The Stampeders (4-10-1) will host the Edmonton Elks (5-11) on Saturday, Oct. 12 with kickoff slated for 3:00 p.m. EDT.
