The Jaguars' roster looks different to how it did on opening day.
Liam Coen's team has made a fair few moves over the past few months, adding Jakobi Meyers to its rank while parting ways with tailback Tank Bigsby.
These moves appear to have worked as the Jaguars enter postseason play as one of football's hottest teams, having won eight straight games to capture the AFC South crown. With Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne and a harrowing defense all humming, Jacksonville supporters have been greeted with plenty of star power within the team's ranks.
If not for injury, the Jaguars could have had more talent at their disposal for the stretch run. Two-way standout Travis Hunter hasn't seen the field since October, after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice.
Here's what you need to know about Hunter's status going forward.
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What happened to Travis Hunter?
On Nov. 11, Hunter underwent surgery to repair his LCL, which he damaged after suffering a non-contact injury during an Oct. 30 practice. The operation effectively ended Hunter's rookie season, with NFL Network's Ian Rapoport initially reporting that Hunter was expected to be out for six months before returning to football activities.
Hunter's ACL remained intact despite the injury. Per Rapoport, the two-way phenom suffered no additional damage to the knee outside of his LCL injury.
Is Travis Hunter playing in 2026 NFL playoffs?
Hunter was initially placed on injured reserve as Jacksonville awaited results of medical scans to determine the severity of its star rookie's injury. Further evaluation revealed that Hunter had, indeed, damaged his LCL, leading the Jaguars to officially rule him out for the remainder of the season.
When will Travis Hunter return?
Hunter was expected to miss six months of action as a result of his injury. He suffered the malady at the end of October and underwent surgery in early-November, so that would suggest he'll be back on the field in some capacity come May 2026. If all goes well during that time, football fans can expect to see Hunter in pads by training camp.
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Knee injury timeline
Recovery times for knee injuries vary based on the nature of ligament, bone or cartilage affected. ACL tears typically take 6-12 months to heal completely, as do patellar tendon tears, per the Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin.
Like the ACL, the LCL typically requires surgery to repair or reconstruct the ligament. The nature of the tear dictates whether the tendon needs to be repaired on reconstructed, according to Dr. Matthew Matava, the head team physician for Washington University's football team and the NHL's St. Louis Blues.
In Hunter's case, six months out of the sport falls right in line with the typical recovery time for an LCL tear.