Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker injured his wrist in his last game and underwent surgery this week, according to head coach Liam Coen (via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe).
However, Walker is still considered day-to-day and has not been ruled out for Jacksonville’s Monday night matchup with the Chiefs. Coen said that Walker “would do everything in his power” to play in Week 5. Perhaps he uses a club, brace, or other method to protect his wrist, but such a rapid return from surgery carries significant risk of exacerbating the original problem.
Walker, the No. 1 overall pick in 2022, underwhelmed as a rookie with just 3.5 sacks and five tackles for loss, but he exploded for 20.5 sacks and 23 TFLs over his next two seasons. He was off to a solid start in 2025 with two sacks and two TFLs, but may be limited by his injury until he is fully recovered.
If Walker does not play, veteran edge defenders Dawuane Smoot, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Dennis Gardeck will take on more snaps against Kansas City. All three have been solid run-stoppers in their career without high-end pass-rushing production.