NFL: No. 1 draft pick Travon Walker gets first career sack in NFL Hall of Fame Game

Thursday night football fans got their first taste of the game finally being back as the Las Vegas Raiders and the Jacksonville Jaguars kicked off the preseasons with the league’s annual Hall of Fame matchup. 

The preseason’s curtain raiser, which was delayed by 40 minutes due to severe weather, remained largely one sided with the Raiders defeating the Jaguars 27-11.

As expected both teams held large amounts of projected starters and key players out to avoid injury, but fans did get to see the NFL’s No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker take the field for the first time. Walker gave Jaguars fans at least one thing to cheer about on the night after recording his first NFL sack.

After recording the worst record in the league last year Jacksonville took the 6-foot-5, 272lb edge rusher out of the University of Georgia. 

In Walker’s final year at Georgia he amassed 37 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and two pass breakups. Over the span of his three years in college Walker amassed a total of 61 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and one interception.

Despite his modest stats Walker amazed talent evaluators with the athleticism and physical traits he displayed on film. Walker solidified these thoughts when he posted several impressive numbers at the NFL combine including running a 4.51 40-yard dash, 35.5 inch vertical jump, and 6.89 3-drill. 

Jacksonville will hope Walker and the rest of their offseason additions will help avoid more disastrous outings like this one and another season spent as the leagues best losers.

Along with a loaded draft class and a bevy of money spent in free agency, most notably the four-year $72million contract given to wide receiver Christian Kirk, the Jaguars also hired Doug Pederson to be the team’s head coach. 

Pederson famously led the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl victory in 2018 and was fired from the team following the 2020 season. Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell, a second round pick in 2021 was also injured during the game and exited the contest during the first quarter.

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne Jr. and Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Davante Adams sat out however Lawrence did speak to reporters on the sideline during the game. 

‘I’m just looking forward to making plays all over the field,’ said Lawrence. ‘We got a bunch of guys that are like I said before playmakers, a lot of speed, but also really smart… I’m excited for that, I’m excited for this new journey.’

This season’s NFL journey on the other hand started off with Raiders backup running back Ameer Abdullah scoring the first touchdown of both the game and the preseason. Abdullah’s touchdown celebration however seemed to be in midseason form as he didn’t hold back with a successful karate kick.

Aside from the on field action fans were able to see this year’s NFL Hall of Fame class introduced before they walk the stage for the Enshrinement Ceremony. This year’s class includes Tony Boselli, wide receiver Cliff Branch, safety LeRoy Butler, linebacker Sam Mills, defensive lineman Richard Seymour and defensive lineman Bryant Young.

Seymour, who is also the youngest member of the class is the name most younger fans will remember having most recently played in 2012 for the then Oakland Raiders. During his career Seymour won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots among a bevy of other accolades. 

Dick Vermeil is the only member of the class to have served as a coach having served as the head coach for the Eagles, Rams and Chiefs throughout a long career that also included success in the college game with UCLA.

The NFL season kicks off on Thursday, September 8 when the Buffalo Bills face the LA Rams.