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The Indianapolis Colts are about to have much-needed depth for the Week 1 opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Colts linebacker Anthony Walker made his way back onto the practice field on Monday. The second-year veteran missed most of training camp with an injury to his groin muscle.
LB Anthony Walker says he’s ready to go to play in Sunday’s opener against the Bengals. He suffered a groin injury early in camp but says he’s stayed in tune with the defense and has tried to help Skai Moore and Zaire Franklin as much as he could.
— Andrew Walker (@AWalkerColts) September 3, 2018
Walker has dealt with injuries before. During his rookie campaign, he suffered a hamstring injury in the 2017 season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, missing six games.
“I wouldn’t have taken the field if I wasn’t 100 percent ready to go,” Walker told Colts.com after Monday’s practice, asked if he had any restrictions heading into Week 1. “So at this point I’m on the field, so I’m ready to go. No matter what the percentage is, if I step on the field, I’ve gotta be ready. The other team isn’t going to be (like), ‘Oh, what percentage are you?’ They’re going to play, so we have to be ready to play as well. And that’s what it’s about right now, so I’m full-go right now.”
Fast forward to now, after missing action for more than a month, Walker is 100 percent ready to go, which will help the defensive unit that is expected to start Najee Goode, Skai Moore and Darius Leonard at the three linebacker spots.
“It was exciting, man, just to be back out there with my teammates,” Walker said about returning to practice on Monday. “I’ve just taken it one day at a time to get better, and when it comes to Week 1, we’ve gotta come out and just gotta build each day to get ready for the game on Sunday.”