P.J. Walker's mom recalls 2018 dream that came true Sunday

[Sir Purr]

CHARLOTTE -- Tamicha Drake always knew her son had what it took to make it in the NFL. In fact, she saw it unfold exactly the way it happened, well over a year ago, before he was even on the roster.


After P.J. Walker led the Panthers to a win over the Lions in his first NFL start, he told the story about his mother dreaming that he'd do so with the Panthers.


That she did it a year and a half ago, when he was in the midst of his on-and-off-the roster dance with the Indianapolis Colts, made it a bit like prophecy.


"I remember, I woke up one morning, and it was so weird I had to call him," Drake said in a phone interview Monday night. "He's with the Colts at the time, but I told him I dreamed he was playing for the Panthers, and he thought that was weird too.


"We agreed it was kind of crazy, but he did, it came true."


There was no real connection at the time to the team, no subconscious reason Drake would see her son's future in Charlotte.


Walker's college coach at Temple, Matt Rhule, was still a year away from taking the job here, and other than being fans of former Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, there was no discernible link for the mother or son.


But that vision remains clear to her today, as she described it after a long shift as a mail carrier back in Elizabeth, N.J., a job she's held for 23 years.