Walker officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Walker, who hasn't played in an NFL game since 2019, retires as a three-time Pro Bowler. He'll be best remembered for his time with the Titans from 2013 through 2019, which was highlighted by a career-best 2015 campaign in which he logged a 94-1,088-6 receiving line on 133 targets.

Walker intends to play football in 2021, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Walker was out of the league in 2020, after a pair of right ankle injuries limited to eight total games and 267 receiving yards between 2018 and 2019. The tight end reportedly started training for the 2020 campaign and received interest from multiple teams, but he never ended up signing anywhere -- a decision that may have been related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In any case, Walker will turn 37 in August and might need to compete for his roster spot even if he finds a contract with some guaranteed money. He was 33 years old the last time he had a productive fantasy season in 2017, when he turned in a 74-807-3 receiving line with the Titans.

Walker (ankle) is training for the upcoming season and has received interest from several teams, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Fowler specifically mentions the Patriots, who already appeared shaky at tight end before Matt LaCosse opted out of the 2020 campaign. Walker will turn 36 in August after suffering major injuries to his right ankle both of the past two years, but he could be a fit for a specialized role on passing downs. He reached the 800-yard mark in four straight seasons from 2014 to 2017, earning three Pro-Bowl nods during that stretch. Walker should be healthy at this point, considering he had surgery back in mid-December.

The 49ers have recently discussed signing either Walker (ankle) or Jordan Reed during the offseason to bolster their tight-end depth, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

This is the first notable report of interest in Walker since he was cut by Tennessee in March after missing the final nine games of last season with an ankle injury that required surgery in December. The ankle was the same one he fractured and dislocated in Week 1 of 2018, an injury that ended his 11-year streak playing 15 or more games. The tight end will turn 36 in August and may need to battle for a roster spot if or when he signs with a team. The 49ers are looking for a veteran to join George Kittle and Ross Dwelley in their tight end room.

The Titans released Walker (ankle) on Friday, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Walker's release frees up $6.4 million in cap space for the Titans. The longtime standout tight end had previously logged four straight seasons with more than 800 receiving yards from 2014-17, during which time he was a staple of Tennessee's offense, but back-to-back injury-plagued campaigns limited him to just eight of the last 32 regular-season games. In 2019, the 35-year-old had just 21 catches for 215 yards and two touchdowns across seven appearances, before he was forced to undergo season-ending ankle surgery December. In Walker's absence, Jonnu Smith is now poised to operate as the clear No. 1 tight end in Tennessee's offense during the 2020 season.

Walker (ankle) may be a cap casualty this offseason, John Glennon of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Walker is a well-known team leader and one of the longest-tenured players with the Titans, but it's hard to argue that he's more valuable than the $6.4 million in cap space his release would create. He'll celebrate his 36th birthday in August, hoping to rebound from back-to-back seasons on injured reserve. Meanwhile, young tight ends Jonnu Smith and Anthony Firkser have emerged as valuable pieces in the Tennessee offense. Any shot of another season with the Titans probably requires Walker to accept a pay cut, or at least a short extension to lower his 2020 cap hit. He had season-ending surgery in December to address an ankle injury.

Walker confirmed Friday that he would undergo a procedure next week to address his injured right ankle, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Walker was placed on injured reserve last week after the ankle issue had prevented him from playing in each of the prior four contests. Despite appearing in just eight total contests over the past two campaigns due to a pair of season-ending ankle injuries, Walker has indicated he intends to keep his career going in 2020, when he'll be 36 years old.

Walker (ankle) has no interest in retiring at the end of the season, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports. "This is not the end for me," Walker said on Tuesday. "This is a setback. And if anyone knows the type injury I had, it ain't easy to come back and play at a high level like I do. I just want to get it fixed and be ready for next year. I still have a year on my contract, and I am a Titan. So as long as the team, the organization, wants me here and believes in me, I am always going to be a Titan."

EDGE Analysis

Walker landed on injured reserve last week due to a nagging ankle injury connected to surgery he underwent last year. The veteran tight end recorded 21 catches for 215 yards and two touchdowns across seven appearances this season. A staple of the Titans' offense for the past seven years, Walker is currently eighth on the team's all time receptions list -- a total he'll hope to add to in 2020.

Walker (ankle) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

With that, Walker's 2019 campaign ends with 21 catches for 215 yards and two touchdowns across seven appearances. Jonnu Smith, Anthony Firkser and MyCole Pruitt will make up the Titans' tight-end corps the rest of the way.

Walker (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's Week 12 tilt against the Jaguars.

EDGE Analysis

Walker carried a doubtful designation heading into the contest, so his inactive status was expected. His fourth straight absence will afford Jonnu Smith another opportunity as the top tight end option for Ryan Tannehill.