Source - Lions releasing veteran safety Tracy Walker III - ESPN

The Detroit Lions are releasing veteran safety Tracy Walker III, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Tuesday.

Walker posted an apparent goodbye to Detroit on Instagram on Tuesday.

«Detroit I want to thank you for welcoming me in as rookie and accepting me as family,» he wrote, thanking the Ford family for the past six seasons with the franchise.

«I want to thank my fans and supporters for always having my back through it all. I want to thank the city for holding down for me,» he added. «It was many ups and downs but that's life and life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you respond. With that being the future is bright and TTIME is coming harder than ever for Year7.!!»

A post shared by Tracy Walker III (@itstracywalker)

Walker appeared in all 17 games last season, making six starts. He finished with 59 tackles, 2 passes defended, 1 forced fumble and 1 sack.