Travis Hunter entered the NFL with sky-high expectations after dazzling at Colorado. He left Boulder as a Heisman Trophy winner, piling up nearly 2,000 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns while also making his presence felt on defense with 66 tackles and seven interceptions. That rare two-way ability made him the second overall pick in this year’s draft and one of the most talked-about rookies in recent memory.
How Jacksonville used him in week one
In his first NFL game, Hunter was featured mainly on offense. He caught six passes for 33 yards and added a single tackle on defense, logging 42 snaps as a receiver and just six at cornerback. The Jaguars beat Carolina 26-10, but head coach Liam Coen explained after the game why Hunter’s defensive time was limited.
Hunter had missed about 10 days of practice, and Coen didn’t want to throw him into complex defensive coverages without enough reps. The plan was to ease him in gradually rather than overload him right away.
Bigger test coming against Cincinnati
That slow start may not last long. Coen confirmed Hunter will see more action on defense this week when Jacksonville faces Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins lining up on the outside, the Jaguars will need every bit of Hunter’s athleticism to keep up.
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Right now, he sits behind veteran Jourdan Lewis on the depth chart. But the team could shift Lewis inside to nickel duties if Hunter proves he can handle full-time outside coverage. That adjustment would give Jacksonville more flexibility while keeping Hunter on the field for key moments.
What it means going forward
It’s early, and the Jaguars may change Hunter’s workload depending on matchups. Still, the long-term vision seems clear: a player who can make plays on both sides of the ball, something rarely seen in today’s NFL. His usage against Cincinnati should give fans the first real look at how serious Jacksonville is about unleashing him as a true two-way weapon.
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