Jaguars get set to face Texans at home; Travon Walker reflects on past meeting, growth

Travon Walker took a beat to remember who the Jacksonville Jaguars played in Week 5 last season when asked about it in the locker room Thursday.

It isn't because he doesn't remember, it's simply been so long since then.

Then, it hits him and a big smile appears on his face. "The Texans?" Walker questioned.

His smile wasn't an indication that something was funny — the Jaguars lost the game 13-6 — it was likely because he knew where the conversation was headed, and why that specific game. It's a game that can create a small, but important teaching moment for a young athlete, as it did for the former first-overall pick.

Jaguars-Texans game guide: Turnover-hungry Jags defense face a hot rookie quarterback

With just 7:26 remaining in the game and the score tied at 6-6, Jacksonville had Houston right where they wanted them. Walker screamed off the line a bit too early, but no whistle could be heard.

A flag is thrown.

The then-rookie OLB continued, slamming then-Texans starting QB Davis Mills to the ground.

Another flag is thrown.

Just like that, the Jaguars were no longer at an advantage. They found themselves in a precarious position and proceeded to allow Houston to march down the field for what ended up being a game-winning touchdown drive.

There's no fortune-telling allowed when it comes to the potential outcome of the game, but Walker's penalty certainly put Jacksonville at a disadvantage and eventually led to the Texans taking the lead, 13-6.

That memory doesn't weigh on Walker anymore. No, he smiles about it now, and it's not something on his mind. Not because of what happened, but because of where he is now, nearly a year later.

"Have to say that situation made me a smarter football player overall," Walker told the Times-Union in the Miller Electric Center locker room Thursday.

"I felt as if I already played the game smart, but the way I was looking at [the play] and the way I explained it to my coaches, they saw how I was thinking, how I was thinking in that situation, but still, I feel like now that I'm in Year 2, I feel like I could have did it a whole other way instead of just slinging him down."

In those instances, the referee is supposed to stand in front of the quarterback to prevent him from being hit. That didn't happen. Still, Walker knows it was a good teaching moment and feels much wiser this season.

"All of that could have really been prevented," Walker acknowledged, noting that now he's in his second season in the league, he has a different perspective and understanding.

It's exactly what Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson noted Friday when asked to recall Walker's play that day.

"I think again, as players mature in this league and grow up in this league, they understand situations and the situational aspect of the game," Pederson said. "As a defensive or even offensive player, you just can’t make those mistakes. You can’t take things into your own hands and try to make a play that way because it kept them on the field. In situations like that, it’s just something you learn from.”

Another year makes a big difference. Another year also gave Walker more perspective on some of the mental aspects of learning the game at this level. Sometimes, you have to hone in on exactly what you need to be doing rather than the full allotment of information given for players to process.

"I feel like I've grown tremendously on the field and off the field. A lot of things that are processing in my head, a lot of people who were telling me different things to do, but now I turn it into things that I need to focus on, things that my teammates need me to focus on." Walker explained, noting how important it is to parse through information from different sources as a young player.

"I feel like that's going to help me make an even bigger jump this year."

Through two games, Walker has been credited with four pressures and one sack. His impact might not always be seen on the stat sheet, but his physicality and ability to play dominantly against the run certainly stand out.

The second-year player is currently seventh on the team in defensive snaps player data at 84.17 percent.

After him, there's a big drop off to running mate Josh Allen, who is playing 68.35 percent of the snaps thus far this season.

Though he admits there will always be some mistakes made on Sundays, he strives to be "as close to perfect as possible," expecting to continue growing as his career continues.

That continues Sunday at EverBank Stadium against Texans rookie QB C.J. Stroud, who has accounted for 626 passing yards and two touchdowns, zero interceptions with a 63.7 percent completion percentage through two games.

Jaguars looking for offensive rebound against Texans' fast defense

Historically, the Texans (0-2) have been a thorn in the Jaguars' (1-1) side, and getting a win against them for the first time in Jacksonville since 2017 is paramount.

The last time the two teams faced off was in Week 17, a 31-3 rout by Jacksonville in Houston. In the previous four meetings the teams have had in Jacksonville, the Jaguars have been outscored 90-54.

The last two matchups didn't go as planned on offense, Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence said earlier in the week and he noted that he and OLB Josh Allen have only beaten the Texans once (Week 17, 2022), Lawrence entering his third season, Allen his fifth.

Still, this year's Texans team includes some new faces, including top draft choices, Stroud and defensive lineman Will Anderson the two selected second and third-overall picks in this year's draft, respectfully.

Jacksonville is also looking to rebound from a more recent game, an unsatisfactory performance against the Chiefs in Week 2 that included a 25 percent third-down conversion rate, the worst in the league through two games of the season.

"Definitely looking to play better than that. I think the emphasis every week is to try to get better, but especially after a game like that, you definitely want to get back on track and play well," Lawrence said this week.

Pederson noted earlier this week that the team's offense didn't practice well last week, which ended up carrying over into the game. This week has gone well, he said just prior to the team's final practice of the week.

"It’s been a lot better. Guys have had a couple of good days here and we’re still working through the dynamics ofeverything, but it’s been a good week," Pederson noted.

Now, Jacksonville's offense will have an opportunity to reignite the flame brought on by past performances and off-season accolades against a Texans defense led by their rookie head coach, former Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans.

Ryans' defense is a mixed bag but stems heavily from that of the San Francisco 49ers, his previous stomping ground as the team's defensive coordinator the last two years. The year is young, so nothing is completely sharpened out, but Pederson sees a fast defense that plays hard.

Still, Pederson sees a team that is changing quickly and a lot is thanks to Ryans.

"They play with a lot of speed, enthusiasm and aggression. It was just a tribute to what DeMeco [Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans] is doing down there. He’s changing that culture," he said Wednesday.

Familiar face: Jaguars set to face off against former Jag Shaquill Griffin

Former Jaguars cornerback Shaquill Griffin will man one of the Texans' starting corner positions this Sunday with second-year CB Derek Stingley officially ruled out this week due to a hamstring injury suffered during practice.

That'll give Jacksonville a familiar face to go up against and to meet up with potentially just after the game. For Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins, he's excited to see his former teammate, at least after the team picks up a win.

"He's a great guy, great player in my opinion," Jenkins said in the locker room Thursday, mentioning that he talked with the Texans corner the night before. "He hasn't seen some of the weapons we have on offense yet, so it'll be a true challenge for him as well, but he can hold his own. Like I said, good player and we'll be looking forward to seeing him."

Griffin was signed by the Jaguars in free agency prior to the 2021 season. He played and started 19 games with Jacksonville, including 14 in 2021 and five games in 2022. Due to a back injury, Griffin was sidelined for most of the 2022 campaign.

Texans rule out four starters, Laremy Tunsil questionable

The Texans will be without several starters on Sunday, including at least three of their starting five offensive linemen. Starting right tackle Tytus Howard (hand), left guard Kenyon Green (left shoulder) and center Juice Scruggs (hamstring) are all on the team's reserve/injured list.

Meanwhile, starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil (knee) is questionable to play after missing the team's Week 2 game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Starting linebacker Denzel Perryman (hand/wrist) was also ruled out.

Houston will be without three of their starting secondary players, including Stingley, nickel cornerback Tavierre Thomas (hand) and starting safety Jalen Pitrie (chest)

Zay Jones ruled out, Josh Allen questionable vs. Texans

The Jaguars ruled wide receiver Zay Jones out for this weekend's game against the Texans due to a knee injury suffered during the team's Week 2 loss against the Chiefs.

Friday, Pederson stated that Jones remains day-to-day, but the team doesn't want to "risk anything further with him right now at this point."

The Jaguars listed three players as questionable entering the contest, including outside linebacker Josh Allen, who suffered a shoulder injury in the second half against the Chiefs but eventually returned.

Defensive lineman Foley Fatukasi and safety Andrew Wingard, also dealing with shoulder injuries, were listed as questionable, too. Pederson noted that Wingard is "good," so he will likely play against Houston.

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X,  formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars set to take on Texans in Week 3; Travon Walker talks growth