Jacksonville Jaguars WR Travis Hunter
Getty
Jacksonville Jaguars WR Travis Hunter
The Jacksonville Jaguars went from 4-13 to 13-4 in Liam Coen’s first season as head coach. Trevor Lawrence played the best football of his career. The defense took a significant step forward. Jacksonville entered the offseason with legitimate expectations of building on a surprise playoff run, but fell short.
A major piece of that next step has been sidelined since Halloween. Travis Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 draft, suffered a non-contact LCL tear in practice ahead of Week 9 and underwent season-ending knee surgery. The Heisman Trophy winner played just seven games as a rookie before his first NFL season was cut short.
On Thursday, the Jaguars provided clarity on both Hunter’s recovery timeline and his role going forward. The news on one front was encouraging. The news on the other represented a significant shift.
Travis Hunter Will Have a New Role
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Jaguars plan to use Hunter as a full-time cornerback and part-time receiver in 2026. The two-way role that defined his college career at Colorado is not disappearing entirely, but the split is changing ahead of the new season.
His snap count as a rookie told the story. Nearly two-thirds of his playing time came at wide receiver. That ratio is now flipping. Hunter will still see some offensive snaps in specific packages, but his primary responsibility will be on the defensive side of the ball.
The reasoning is straightforward. Brian Thomas Jr. has established himself as the Jaguars’ top receiver. Jakobi Meyers made an immediate impact after arriving in Florida. Parker Washington emerged as a reliable third option. Jacksonville does not need Hunter to be a full-time wideout. They want him locking down opposing receivers.
Evan Sidery
The Jaguars are officially making Travis Hunter a full-time cornerback, per @RapSheet.
Hunter will have some gadget plays on offense, but no longer the 50/50 split as he did winning the Heisman at Colorado.
Hunter’s Recovery On Track for Training Camp
General manager James Gladstone addressed Hunter’s timeline at the team’s pre-draft media luncheon on Thursday.
“Eyes on return to play at full tick in training camp,” Gladstone said.
Gladstone described Hunter as a limited participant through the offseason program, with the expectation of full health by the time the team reports in late July. Head coach Coen echoed the optimism at the league’s owners meetings last month, saying Hunter is on schedule and that the medical team is encouraged by his progress.
Hunter’s surgery took place in early November. The original six-month timeline puts him on track for a full return in May, which aligns with the expectation of full participation by training camp. The plan is to have him ready for Week 1.
Jacksonville Jaguars WR/CB Travis Hunter
GettyTravis Hunter of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Final Word for the Jaguars
The two-way experiment is not over. Hunter will still touch the ball on a handful of offensive snaps. But the days of splitting his time evenly between receiver and cornerback are done. At least for now.
Jacksonville is betting that Hunter’s ceiling is higher on defense than it is on offense. The rookie tape supports that. The roster construction demands it. And the injury provided a natural reset point to make the transition.
Hunter arrived in Jacksonville with every intention of playing both ways at the highest level. The Jaguars are now telling him where they need him most. Cornerback.