CLEVELAND – Delanie Walker's 2018 season ended in Week One.
The three-time Pro Bowler was carted off the field after suffering a season-ending ankle injury in a loss at Miami, and boarded the flight home with his leg in a cast.
Some wondered if it might be the beginning of the end for Walker.
He proved on Sunday it's not.
"A 35-year-old coming off the injury that I had," Walker said. "It just felt good to come out here and prove everybody wrong. I still have a lot of games ahead of me. This is just the first one."
Walker had five catches for 55 yards and two touchdown catches in Tennessee's 43-13 win over the Browns.
Walker scored on an 11-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Marcus Mariota, and he followed it up with a seven-yard touchdown catch as the Titans opened up the lead.
"Whenever you get the ball in his hands he makes plays," Mariota said of Walker. "I appreciate the fact that journey for him, how long it took him to get back, I am glad he got a little bit of redemption today."
Titans coach Mike Vrabel made Walker a special game day captain on Sunday.
Walker credited his teammates after the game.
"It took all 11," Walker said. "I couldn't have done it without my offensive line, the tight ends running their routes, Marcus putting the perfect ball out there and the receivers running routes.
"I never would have gotten these touchdowns without them."
After his scores, Walker celebrated with an imaginary shovel.
"That's known as 'paydirt'," Walker said with a smile. "We get in that end zone and we have to shovel the dirt. We have a little thing where whoever gets in the end zone or does something spectacular in that area, they get a shovel and I want that shovel."
