DeMarcus Walker has been put on notice: Play better or not at all.

Coach Vance Joseph announced Wednesday that the rookie outside linebacker will not be active on game days until he improves on special teams. Walker was a surprise scratch for Week 8, prompting questions about his status.

“We dressed four outside linebackers," said Joseph. "Obviously, with [OLB] Shane Ray being back, that fourth guy has to play special teams. [OLB Kasim] Edebali is a starter on punt return, punt and kickoff return. He’s not, it’s simple as that. He won’t dress until he plays better teams.”

Chosen in the second round of last April's draft, Walker has had a tough go of things in his first year with the team. He was moved from defensive end, his natural position, to OLB, forced to learn an entirely new set of responsibilities and assignments with Ray and Shaquil Barrett on the shelf.

Once Barrett returned to the lineup toward the end of training camp, Walker was bumped down the depth chart, and logged just two tackles on 44 defensive snaps through six regular season games. Ray's debut on Monday night sealed his fate.

Walker would likely see more action at DE, where he could thrive with his hand in the dirt, but a move back doesn't appear to be imminent.

“That’s very possible in the future, but right now he’s an outside linebacker," Joseph said.



And thus, not in the Broncos' short-term plans.