Tennessee Titans Preseason Week 2 Player of the Game: Delanie Walker

Tennessee Titans tight end, Delanie Walker, takes home the Preseason Week 2 Player of the Game award in the Titans’ loss to the New England Patriots on Saturday night.

Tennessee Titans tight end, Delanie Walker, made his return to Nissan Stadium on Saturday night, and the veteran did not disappoint. In fact, he was our Preseason Week 2 Player of the Game.

There were two obvious options for player of the game in this one. However, only one of those two is playing in his first game since last September.

Walker played in his first game since dislocating his ankle in the Week 1 loss to the Miami Dolphins last season. He quickly let Titans fans know that he is still the same Delanie Walker, regardless of how much time he’s missed.

The Titans were facing a 2nd and 9 on their own 14 yard line when quarterback Marcus Mariota found Walker on a 14-yard pass that sent the crowd into an ovation that won’t soon be forgotten.

All Titans fans know that Walker could have walked away after his gruesome injury, and no one would have ever questioned why. Those who were in attendance certainly showed their appreciation for the 35-year-old tight end’s perseverance.

That would have been enough for me, however, later that drive Walker crossed Obi Melifonwu’s face on an 11-yard post route that created enough separation for Mariota to find Walker in the back of the end zone. The crowd once again erupted as all of Walker’s teammates congratulated him in the end zone — a place where Titans fans expect to see him a lot this season.

Walker finished with two catches for 26 yards and the one touchdown.

Overall, there weren’t too many standout performances, which made Walker’s all the more special. The veteran tight end deserved this honor for the Preseason Week 2 game simply for making it out there, and he did plenty more than that.

Honorable Mention: Marcus Mariota

The Titans quarterback had a rough start in the first two drives after taking one sack, and going three-and-out twice to begin the game.

However, on Mariota’s third and last drive of the game, he came to life. Mariota threw a deep dig to Corey Davis, and he eventually ended the drive by connecting with Walker for the 11-yard touchdown.

Mariota gave Titans fans a scare when he flipped into the end zone on the ensuing two-point conversion, but it just goes to show how much of a competitor he truly is. The Oregon product looked to be fine after the play.

Mariota completed six of nine passes for 63 yards and one touchdown, and perhaps more importantly, should have done enough to silence his critics.