Walker took over for Bryan Bulaga at right tackle late in the second quarter in Pittsburgh and spent the next 20 plays matched against former Kentucky outside linebacker Bud Dupree (6-4, 269), an athletic phenom with a 4.61 40 and a 42-inch vertical jump who was drafted with the 22nd pick in April.
"Me knowing I had a good player out there, it took some mental strength to get over that hump," Walker said. "I wasn't able to breathe at tackle (11 snaps) in the Patriots game. First real reps out there in competition."
Dupree emptied his arsenal on 17 pass plays, settled for one hurry and appeared somewhat frustrated. Walker kept shoving his edge rushes wide of Scott Tolzien. He also blotted out Dupree on a bull rush, adjusted nicely to handle a slashing inside charge and passed off an end-tackle stunt as if it was second nature.