One of the Bills’ breakout stars of 2026 just got a major stamp of approval from one of the league’s elite players
The Bills prevailed against the Raiders in Week 6 and one of their best players offered a post-game endorsement for a breakout star in Buffalo.
If you had any lingering questions about the legitimacy of Deone Walker’s breakout season with the Buffalo Bills, you can officially put them to rest. Buffalo’s Week 6 win over the Las Vegas Raiders delivered the kind of evidence that settles a debate. Walker went toe to toe with Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum and had a ton of success in the process.
Just ask Linderbaum.
Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum offers a strong endorsement to Buffalo Bills DT Deone Walker
“Me personally, I think I like ’96’ dictate the game on me. Great player, credit to him, he came out ready to play.”
— Las Vegas Raiders center Tyler Linderbaum on Bills DT Deone Walker
That endorsement from Linderbaum is about as good as a young defender can hope for. It continues to move Walker out of the “nice story” category. Instead, he becomes a true measuring stick for what a breakout performance looks like in Buffalo. The timing of all this matters, too. Buffalo’s defense has endured a frustrating start, and bright spots have been select. Walker has been one of the few consistent positives in a unit still searching for answers.
Walker now as have tackles for loss through six weeks. That includes one in each of the last three games. But the disruption and gravitational pull he offers in the inside transcends far beyond the box score readings. He’s becoming a truly game-wrecking presence on the inside.
There’s still plenty of football left, and the Bills’ defense has work to do before anyone feels comfortable about the unit as a whole. But if Buffalo is going to find its footing, Walker looks like a big part of the foundation. The Pro Bowl center across from him in Week 6 would probably tell you the same thing.
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