Anthony Walker Jr. won't lament another season-ending injury as uncertain offseason begins

BEREA — Anthony Walker Jr. spent locker clean-out day Sunday very much as he did a year earlier. The only difference was that it came a week later because of the Browns making the playoffs.

Much like a year ago, the veteran Browns linebacker was answering two big questions. One was about having to end the season injured, and the other was about where the impending free agent would be playing next season.

A year ago, Walker's season was cut short in Week 3, when he sustained a torn quad tendon that required surgery. This time, it was a knee injury — that required arthroscopic surgery — he suffered in practice just days before the Browns' Week 15 win over the Chicago Bears.

"No, it was frustrating," Walker said Sunday, a day after the Browns' season ended with a AFC wild card loss at the Houston Texans. "Obviously you always want to be out there when you have the opportunity. Just the way that works out sometimes. Can't sit here and just sit here and let it affect you going into the offseason.

"Just hope to be healthy really, really soon here fast and be ready to get some real training in and get my body back to what I know it could be."

There was initially some hope Walker would be able to get back on the field without needing the surgery. In fact, after missing the Bears game, he did his typical game-week media availability on the Wednesday before the Browns' Christmas Eve game at the Texans.

The next day, Dec. 21, Walker underwent the knee scope. The Browns placed him on injured reserve the day after that.

"Yeah, always have the same mindset as far as it's an opportunity and it's always thankfulness to play the game," Walker said. "And as you get up in years as I am, you understand how precious that is. … I just want to go out there and after having a full offseason of training and preparing my body and getting back into the right spot mentally, physically, everything, I'll be back to the player that I am."

Walker had played in 12 of the Browns' first 13 games this season and was, as he had been the previous two seasons, the defensive heart and soul as one of the team captains. All of this was after he tested free agency last spring, only to come back and re-sign with the Browns.

Now, Walker is once again faced with a decision about his future.

"Anytime I'm able to play this game of football, wherever it is, I'm going to take that opportunity and run with it," Walker said. "Whether that's here or anywhere else, those decisions aren't up to me. That's my agent, that's front office, in this building or anywhere else. So whatever that opportunity is and wherever I do have the opportunity to play football next year, I'm going to take that opportunity and run with it and be the best player that I can be, whether that's here or anywhere else."

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Anthony Walker Jr.'s eyes focused on now, future after another injury