After long wait, Walker gets two sacks

Demarcus Walker ran toward the southwest tunnel Sunday at Mile High with a Broncos victory and the bottled-up frustration of two-plus seasons in obscurity finally unleashed.

His emotions reached a tipping point after a 16-0 shutout of the Titans with television cameras tracking his every move. He soaked in the moment. Screaming “Let’s Go!” with a right fist raised up at the sky, Walker announced his NFL arrival to a standing ovation from fans who surrounded the exit and anyone else who once proclaimed the 2017 second-round pick a bust.

“The opportunity presented itself,” Walker said. “It was really up to me to come in and just show what I can do.”

The defensive end recorded two sacks at critical fourthquarter junctures.

The first sack knocked Tennessee (2-4) out of field-goal range when Walker pushed left tackle Taylor Lewan to the side, blew past an arm block from running back Derrick Henry, and smashed quarterback Ryan Tannehill to the turf for a 10yard loss. Walker’s second sack arrived on the Titans’ last scoring chance — fourth down at the Denver 13 — when Tannehill scrambled out of the pocket to buy time only to have Walker drag him down again.

“When you’re up and everyone is playing great, it’s definitely fun and we’re just getting the ball rolling,” Walker said. “We’re very excited where we’re at.”

The road to Walker’s first career multi-sack game in his 19th Broncos appearance provided no shortcuts. Denver drafted Walker No. 51 overall out of Florida State and the coaching staff under former coach Vance Joseph asked him to switch from defensive end to linebacker and drop significant weight; only to move Walker back to the defensive line by season’s end. Last year, with the perceived defensive line depth improvement, Walker was listed as a healthy scratch in 13 games.

A new coaching staff under Vic Fangio, though, provided Walker a new football life. Sunday’s performance hinted that it might be only the beginning. In addition to his sacks, Walker finished with four tackles and two quarterback hurries.

“It was very humbling and I’m just blessed and very happy in how far I’ve come,” Walker said. “The work doesn’t stop.”

Teammates who supported Walker through his tumultuous first two NFL seasons were equally thrilled.

“He came in, fought his way to the spot he’s in now, and I couldn’t be happier for him,” linebacker Todd Davis said. “He’s making plays for us and two sacks tonight at huge times. … I think he went back to his Florida State days. He started feeling good again.”

The Broncos will require another strong pass rush Thursday night with the Chiefs (4-2) visiting Mile High. Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been sacked five times over his past two games. Walker is ready for the challenge.

“I’m an overachiever and I’m still not satisfied,” Walker said. “I just have to keep going and get ready for Kansas City.”