Defensive tackle Walker making most of opportunity with Blue Bombers

This year, Ricky Walker is expected to be the starting American on the interior, and the Blue Bombers have high hopes for what the 6-foot-2, 287-pound, 27-year-old defensive lineman can do.

Published May 24, 2023 • 2 minute read

Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive tackle Ricky Walker has been working with the first team throughout training camp and is expecte to be a starter this season. Photo by KEVIN KING /Winnipeg Sun

Ricky Walker was not thrilled to see his friend and roommate Casey Sayles leave the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, even though it put him in line for more playing time.

“That’s my guy, my roommate,” Walker said after a training camp session at IG Field on Wednesday

“But he deserved it. I’m proud of him. He put in the work and we talk about it all the time. So in that sense I’m happy for him and he sent me a text saying ‘It’s your turn, so just go out there and do what you do.’”

Sayles was a starting defensive tackle for the Bombers last season, but he signed a free-agent contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the off-season.

Walker has been around the Bombers for two seasons already, getting into a total of 19 games, mostly as a backup or rotational player.

Though he was considered an effective interior lineman, he was held out of six games last year, a victim of roster numbers.

This year Walker is expected to be the starting American on the interior and the Bombers have high hopes for what the 6-foot-2, 287-pound, 27-year-old can do.

“It’s going very well, man,” Walker said. “I’ve been competing every day, going with the ones, the first group, getting that chemistry together, and just giving all I got for my teammates and just playing fast.

“It feels good when you’re out there with the ones and you look around and you see guys next to you like Willie (Jefferson) and guys on defence like Alden Darby and Brandon Alexander all in the same huddle. It makes you feel a little good and have some confidence about yourself.”

Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive tackle Ricky Walker works against offensive lineman Liam Dobson during a training camp session at IG Field this week. Photo by KEVIN KING /Winnipeg Sun

Walker has 22 defensive tackles and two quarterback sacks in his career, but those numbers will surely go up with significantly more playing time in 2023.

“I remember Rick’s first training camp, the first thing that I noticed was that he had violent hands,” fellow defensive tackle Jake Thomas said. “The biggest thing for Rick this year, for anyone, is you always get better with more playing time. You make a couple plays, you gain more and more confidence and whenever you have confidence, it’s easier to play.

“Rick’s going to do a great job. He’s always been solid for us. But it was tough there for a few years. You had (Steven Richardson) ahead of him, then Casey was next in line. Casey is no longer here, so it’s Rick’s time to shine.”

While there are other defensive tackles in camp, it’s pretty clear Walker has a grip on a starting job.

“Athletic, strong, fits in well with the guys, he’s been here, knows what we’re doing,” Bombers’ coach Mike O’Shea said.

“All those things add up to him being able to get in there and do it. And he has. He’s been out there making plays for us for a few years now.”

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