The Jacksonville Jaguars are facing the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5. This will be their only game on Monday Night Football this season, and it will offer them a great opportunity to prove that they're not a paper tiger.
The Jags are 3-1 to start the season but aren't seen as a serious playoff contender yet. A win against the Chiefs would change that. However, it won't be an easy task, far from it.
The Chiefs are 2-2 and have a middle-of-the-pack offense. However, they're still a threat due to the presence of Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. As long as the duo is around, Kansas City will have a chance. On defense, Chris Jones and George Karlaftis will make things tough for Trevor Lawrence. If the Jags offensive line can neutralize them and give Trevor Lawrence enough time to throw, they might have a chance.
Currently, their sack rate of 2.0 percent is the best in the league. They are second in pressure rate at 21.7 percent and rank fourth in yards before contact with 1.98.
Similarly, the Jacksonville defense will need to do its part, make a few stops, and continue to create takeaways. This won't be easy, as the Chiefs have done a good job of not turning the ball over this season. But even if the Jags cannot force any turnovers, they must bring the heat. That will be significantly easier if Travon Walker suits up for the game.
The fourth-year pass rusher suffered a wrist injury in the win over the San Francisco 49ers. He underwent surgery in the aftermath and is considered day-to-day. He practiced with a club in his hand and will be a game-time decision.
If Walker is ultimately unavailable, the Jags will resort to a combination of Dawuane Smoot, Emmanuel Ogbah, and rookie B.J. Green to replace him opposite Josh Hines-Allen.
Aside from Walker, rookie offensive lineman Wyatt Milum is the only other Jag who got a questionable designation for the Monday Night bout. That said, linebacker Yasir Abdullah has already been ruled out. On the ther hand, Dyami Brown (shoulder), Patrick Mekari (knee), Chuma Edoga (knee), Ezra Cleveland (ankle/concussion), and Anton Harrison (elbow) were limited participants in practice ahead of the game, but all of them are good-to-go.
On the Kansas City Chiefs sideline, cornerback Kristian Fulton (knee) and defensive lineman Omar Norman-Lott (shoulder) are the only Kansas City Chiefs players with a questionable status.
Jaguars inactives vs. the Chiefs on Monday Night Football
Here are the inactives for today's game:
Yasir Abdullah, linebacker
Travon Walker, pass rusher
Kahlif Hailassie, safety
Danny Striggow, defensive end
Khalen Saunders Sr., defensive tackle
So Dyami Brown is in, Travon Walker is out. No surprises here.