JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Travon Walker’s breakthrough performance came on a day the Jacksonville Jaguars allowed 447 yards and 24 fourth-quarter points. The No.
1 overall pick in the 2022 draft — the guy taken ahead of Detroit Lions star Aidan Hutchinson — had three sacks in a 37-34 victory against Indianapolis on Sunday . Walker dropped Joe Flacco for a 17-yard loss on the final play, ending any chance the Colts had of completing a comeback. He also had a strip-sack at the end of the first half that set up a field goal.
Walker now has five sacks in five games, a solid start after he had 10 sacks in 2023. “Man, that was awesome,” teammate Josh Hines-Allen said. “These are the moments that I tell Travon that you’re capable of having each and every game if you stay committed to what you’re doing, beat the guy in front of you and win your one-on-one.
You’re capable of having a game just like this every single time.” The Jaguars have been waiting for Walker to go from promising to dominating. He’s flashed at times and looked stout as a run-stopping defensive end on first and second downs.
But the next stage of his development has been becoming a versatile pass rusher capable of winning with different moves. He looked the part against the Colts (2-3), who rallied late. Indianapolis scored two quick touchdowns in the final five minutes to tie the game at 34.
Flacco connected with Alex Pierce for 45 yards to set up Trey Sermon’s 1-yard score and then found.