Emmanuel Acho didn’t hold back after the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 2, zeroing in on how Liam Coen is deploying Travis Hunter.
On Monday’s “Speakeasy,” Acho blasted the Jaguars coach for not maximizing the rookie’s rare two-way ability.
"Get a refund if this is how you are going to use Travis Hunter," Acho said on the "Speakeasy" show on Monday. "Return him, if this is how you're gonna use him.
Send Travis Hunter back to Colorado if this is how you're gonna use him. ... He's entirely too talented to be playing less than 70% of snaps"
Hunter, who won the Heisman Trophy in his final season at Colorado, entered the NFL as one of the most unique prospects in recent memory. Jacksonville traded up with the Cleveland Browns to grab him with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
So far, though, the usage has tilted heavily to one side. Hunter has been on defense for 58% of the snaps and has taken just 9% on offense this season.
In actual game action, that has meant 10 offensive snaps. He’s caught one pass for eight yards and added one carry for three yards. On defense, he has five combined tackles and one pass defended.
The Jaguars are now 1-1 and will turn to Week 3 against the New England Patriots, who also sit at 1-1 after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-3 on Sunday. That matchup is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Jaguars-Patriots game will air on CBS, with streaming available on Paramount+.
In Other News...
Jaguars Let This One Slip As Trevor Lawrence Faces New Concern
The Jaguars had a chance to turn Week 2 into an early tone-setter, but instead watched Denver walk out with a 20-13 comeback victory that exposed some familiar frustrations. Jacksonville could not hold the lead, and the loss came with the kind of uneven offensive showing that can make even a promising start feel fragile, especially when the defense is asked to carry too much of the load.
Trevor Lawrence and the passing game now face a new layer of concern as the Jaguars move on from a game that slipped away in the second half. Denvers defense tightened up after a rough opener, closing off the run and getting enough pressure to make Jacksonville uncomfortable, while the Broncos found just enough from their own attack to overcome an early mistake and finish strong, even if the offense still left some points on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Film Revealed A Few Bright Spots And Some Real Concerns
The Jaguars Week 2 loss to the Broncos left plenty to sort through, and the film review brought a mixed bag for a team trying to settle in before New England comes to town in Week 3. There were a few encouraging signs tucked into the tape, most notably Bhayshul Tutens work at running back, Ventrell Millers steady play on defense and Dennis Gardecks impact rushing the passer.
Still, the same film also showed some areas that need cleaner answers quickly. Brian Thomas Jr. had his struggles, Arik Armstead was not as disruptive as Jacksonville needs him to be, and Montaric Brown had issues in coverage. With the Patriots next on the schedule, the Jaguars are getting a clearer picture of where the roster is holding up and where the pressure is already starting to build. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Loss Exposed A Defensive Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Bhayshul Tuten and Parker Washington gave the Jaguars some needed production in the 20-13 loss to Denver, but the bigger story was on the other side of the ball. Jacksonvilles run defense held up, and there were moments where the offense found enough rhythm to stay in the game, yet the Broncos consistently made life difficult up front and forced the Jaguars to work for everything they got.
Jacksonvilles pass rush and secondary never fully settled in, which left the defense vulnerable when the Broncos needed to create separation. The offensive line had its own problems dealing with Denvers front, and the combined effect was a game that kept exposing the same soft spots. For a team trying to build momentum, it was the kind of loss that leaves a clear warning about what still has to get fixed. [Read more 🡒]