2022 NFL Season | Hall of Fame Game: JAX vs. LV

CANTON, Ohio – Senior writer John Oehser, senior correspondent Brian Sexton and team reporter Ashlyn Sullivan offer quick thoughts on the Jaguars’ 27-11 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2022 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Thursday

1. A strong start for the rookie. The Jaguars weren’t near perfect Thursday – defensively or offensively. And a lot of front-line players didn’t play in the preseason opener. But a key storyline was positive for the franchise – and that’s that rookie outside linebacker Travon Walker showed up in his first NFL “game.” Walker, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, showed impressive power and pressure in two series Thursday. He had pressure on the game’s first play, though he was penalized (perhaps questionably) 15 yards for unnecessary roughness on quarterback Jarrett Stidham on a 31-yard pass that set up a Raiders field goal. Playing against Raiders tackle Brandon Parker, Walker handled himself well and got a consistent push – then registered a sack on Stidham on the second series. Walker must improve his pass-rushing technique but he was impressive physically in his NFL debut. “I thought he played extremely well,” Head Coach Doug Pederson said. “Travon did a nice job. When he got around the quarterback, he was disruptive. You saw his strength, his athleticism and his power.”
2. Breathe … and keep perspective. This wasn’t a pretty game for the Jaguars. They allowed some big runs early that led to a couple of Raiders field goals – and the offense struggled. But the caveat that always must be remembered in August – that it’s indeed just preseason – was particularly true for the Jaguars Thursday. Pederson held pretty much every frontline skill position out of the game, including: quarterback Trevor Lawrence, wide receiver Christian Kirk, wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr., wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., wide receiver Zay…