Key Jaguars Defender Ruled Out for Monday Night Football vs. Chiefs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jay Canale | Last updated Oct 6, 2025 7:44 PM ET

Jacksonville Jaguars edge rusher Travon Walker has been ruled out for tonight’s Monday Night Football matchup between the Jaguars and the Kansas City Chiefs, according to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. Walker suffered a wrist injury in the team’s win over the San Francisco 49ers last week and underwent surgery on Monday.

This could prove to be a serious problem for Jacksonville, as the former first overall pick has been one of their best defensive players over the past few seasons. Pro Football Focus has Walker graded as the Jaguars’ sixth-best defender this season and their front seven’s top run defender.

Jacksonville has depth at the position, with veterans Emmanuel Ogbah, Dennis Gardeck, and Duwuane Smoot available. Ogbah played the most snaps of the three against the 49ers, with 43.

Sep 21, 2025; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker (44) pressures the quarterback against the Houston Texans at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Travis Register-Imagn Images

Although some may say Walker hasn’t fully lived up to his billing as a former first overall pick, he has been incredibly impactful for the Jaguars both as a run defender and a pass rusher. Walker’s 79.2 PFF grade this season is the 23rd-best mark in the league among edge rushers, and his 84.9 run defense grade is the fourth-best.

Travon Walker is a former #1 overall pick and is becoming a top gamewrecker in the NFL and STILL nobody talks about him.

I don’t understand it… pic.twitter.com/13iejLG32v
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) September 16, 2025

This is a key loss, especially against Kansas City. Having two edge rushers with Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker’s talent means the Chiefs must choose who to double-team and chip, leaving one of the two rushers with a one-on-one against a pair of Chiefs tackles who have allowed 16 combined pressures this season. Without Walker, the Chiefs can focus all their attention on Hines-Allen and let one of Ogbah, Gardek, or Smoot try to beat them.

Having Walker out for this game certainly doesn’t ruin the Jaguars’ chances of winning, but it will make their path to beating a Chiefs team they haven’t beaten since 2009 (per Pro Football Reference) that much harder.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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