One of the biggest storylines surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of their Week 7 game was whether Travis Hunter would have a bigger role at receiver. After hauling in just four receptions for 15 yards in the loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Liam Coen vowed to get the reigning Heisman Trophy winner more involved on offense. True to his word, the Jags unleashed him.
Hunter caught a career-best eight receptions for 101 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown. All things considered, that should be a reason for optimism or even celebration. However, his outstanding performance was overshadowed by his team's humiliating 35-7 loss to Los Angeles.
Travis Hunter was a bright spot for the Jaguars in the loss to the Rams
Things quickly got out of control, with the Rams already leading 21-0 in the first half. Looking back, many things played a role in the team's underwhelming performance: Drops, penalties, and the offensive line's inability to block up front.
But despite the struggles on offense, Jacksonville didn't get Travis Hunter involved until late in the second quarter. Even though he had logged 29 snaps at receiver, his first touch came just before the two-minute warning. For a brief moment, it looked like Liam Coen's comments about giving him a bigger role weren't going to come to fruition. But something changed after halftime.
To start the third quarter, Hunter hauled in three catches for 30 yards and had two first downs. That was only the beginning. He would keep getting the ball and eventually scored his first NFL touchdown on a 34-yard catch.
TRAVIS HUNTER FIRST CAREER TOUCHDOWN ‼️
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Hunter entered the game with 20 catches for 197 yards. He now has 28 for 298 yards, most definitely a reason for optimism.
Travis Hunter gives the Jaguars a glimmer of hope moving forward
There's no such thing as a moral victory, and the Jaguars most definitely have to go back to the drawing board after losing two games in a row. One thing that could help them get back on track is using Travis Hunter as much as they did in the second half against the Rams.
And that's the thing, it's just one game, but Hunter is arguably the team's best receiver. Parker Washington, Dyami Brown, and Brian Thomas all had drops. Of the three, Thomas was probably the most disappointing, as he had shown progress the past two games. However, he continues to have the same drop issues that plagued him early in the year.
Based on how things have unfolded, it's a no-brainer for the coaching staff to craft a game plan around Hunter.
On a day in which several Jaguars players failed to step up, Travis Hunter delivered. It' just a shame that his best game of the season came in the midst of an embarrassing loss.