Jaguars OLB Travor Walker’s impact vs. Raiders, other observations

1. Jaguars vs. Raiders: Travon Walker’s transition is going well so far

Fans will have to wait at least one more week to see Trevor Lawrence take the football field. The same is true for running back Travis Etienne. On the bright side, the Jaguars got to see rookie outside linebacker Travon Walker make his preseason debut after months of anticipation.

The Jags were severely criticized for taking Walker over Aidan Hutchinson first overall in this year’s draft. The biggest concern surrounding Waker is that he’s entering the NFL without much experience lining up at outside linebacker. Back in college, he was asked to play several positions across the defensive line and he hardly rushed the quarterback from a two-point stance.

The former Georgia Bulldog is now making the transition to outside linebacker, which could potentially accentuate his learning curve in the pros. On the bright side, he’s done everything he’s asked and hasn’t disappointed so far. Walker thrived in the first week of training camp and his success carried over into the Hall of Fame game.

Walker started the contest with a bang, pushing back and effectively beating Raiders offensive tackle Brandon Parker to hit quarterback Jarrett Stidham. He was flagged for roughing the passer but his strength and length were on full display. Later in the game, he did log a sack.

There’s still a long way to go before the Jaguars have an accurate read on Walker but they should be pleased with the early returns on their investment.