The Jacksonville Jaguars are hoping to put up the sort of defensive resistance against the Kansas City Chiefs that the Baltimore Ravens could one week ago. If they’re going to pull off a big win at home on Monday Night Football, they’re going to need defensive end Travon Walker to do so.
On Thursday, the Jaguars got some good news with word that Walker might be able to suit up in Week 5 despite recently undergoing surgery for an injured wrist. Jags head coach Liam Coen stated that Walker not only had successful surgery but that he was potentially going to be available just days later to face Kansas City.
The official injury designation for Walker at this point, per Coen, is day to day.
Travon Walker might be playing versus K.C. just days after undergoing surgery.
That’s a major upgrade for Walker, who injured his wrist in Week 4. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported in the last 24 hours that he was likely out a few weeks, so the Jaguars have to be thrilled with the fact that Walker’s status is even in play for Week 5. Even if he cannot go on Monday, it sounds as if the team will have him back sooner than expected either way.
Walker went down in the first half of the Jags’ game against the San Francisco 49ers and never returned. He was seen in a sling after the game. He has 13 quarterback pressures and 2 sacks so far this season, with 20.5 sacks over the last two years for the Jags.
The Jaguars selected Walker first overall in the 2022 NFL Draft over Aidan Hutchinson, who went to Detroit, in a 1-2 pass-rushing punch atop the draft order. Walker blossomed in his second season and has turned into a young cornerstone for a strong pass rush up front that includes Josh Hines-Allen and Arik Armstead among others.
If Walker is unable to go, the Jags will lean more on Dawuane Smoot, B.J. Green, and former Chiefs edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah against Kansas City.
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