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Idaho Football

Former Idaho linebacker Tre Walker unretires from Washington Commanders hours after calling it quits

Idaho Vandals linebacker Tre Walker (8) pauses between plays during a practice on Thursday, August 8, 2019, at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, ID.  (Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review)
By Nicki Jhabvala and Sam Fortier Washington Post

Hours after Washington Commanders Coach Ron Rivera announced linebacker Tre Walker abruptly decided to retire Friday, the rookie had a change of heart and was reinstated to the team, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Walker, an undrafted player out of the University of Idaho, did not attend practice Friday because of his brief retirement. The decision was a surprise and a blow to the team’s linebacking corps, which was already thin after the loss fellow undrafted rookie Drew White to an ACL injury.

“He said it was something he’d been thinking about and there’s some things that he wanted to get back to,” Rivera said of Walker on Friday morning. “So, he decided it was time to move on. … He is a guy we had some hopes for, but unfortunately he just decided it was time to move on. We want to wish him all the best.”

But later that day, Walker decided otherwise and spoke to Rivera about returning, according to the person informed of the matter, who spoke anonymously so as to freely discuss the situation. The NFL’s transaction report Friday included him on the reserve/retired list for the Commanders. But the team retains his rights for the remainder of his contract so it could bring him back.

Walker was, temporarily, the second Commanders player to retire this season; three days into camp, tight end Antonio Gandy-Golden decided to return to school.

Walker’s return was likely a welcome development, given Washington’s depth at linebacker. Rivera said Friday morning that, in Walker’s absence, the team would likely have to look at adding another linebacker to the room for competition. Behind starting middle linebacker Cole Holcomb, the team has former first-round pick Jamin Davis, veteran David Mayo and young reserves in Khaleke Hudson, Bryce Notree, De’Jon Harris, Milo Eifler.

But with Walker, who was expected to practice Saturday night at FedEx Field with the rest of the team, the Commanders’ defense regains another promising player.