The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t trade up for Travis Hunter to watch him stand on the sideline and moonlight as a part-time player. They paid a hefty price in the 2025 NFL Draft, sending the Cleveland Browns a package of picks led by a future first-rounder, because they wanted the reigning Heisman Trophy winner to be a two-way difference-maker.
That vision has been part of the pitch from the start. New general manager James Gladstone made it clear last year that Hunter was more than just another top prospect.
"He's a rare person," Gladstone said last year. "He's a rare player.
But he's also a reminder that the boundaries of the game of football we built to be challenged. We want him to be nothing more than him - because when he is, he elevates the space around him - from the football field, to the city, to the game of football itself.
"Travis Hunter is who we've been hunting up."
So far, though, the early returns have been underwhelming. Hunter’s rookie season was cut short by an LCL injury after seven games, and he finished with 28 catches for 298 yards and one touchdown, plus 15 tackles and three passes defensed. Through two games this season, he’s barely been part of the offensive picture: one catch for eight yards, one carry for three yards, and a defensive line that includes five tackles and one pass defensed.
The snap counts tell the bigger story. Hunter has played 58.4% of the defensive snaps through two weeks, but only 8.6% on offense. That has naturally raised questions about why such a gifted weapon is seeing so little action on that side of the ball, especially after the Jaguars seemed poised to lean more on him at cornerback this year while still keeping the two-way plan intact.
After Jacksonville’s 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, head coach Liam Coen made it clear the offense needs more from Hunter.
"Any time you struggle offensively, specifically, you look at the totality of it all, and Travis is a big part of that obviously that we're looking at continuing to find different ways to get him involved," Coen told reporters. "You're also looking at the other side of the ball... I thought he did a nice job throughout the course of the week, and we're going to look at giving him some more this week."
Coen also pointed to the challenge of easing him back in after missing time last year.
"It is a balancing act, though, right?" Coen said.
"You're trying to get into a flow, whether it's on offense or defense. But we have corners that we have a lot of confidence in."
The loss wasn’t on one player alone, but the Jaguars’ offense vanished late. Jacksonville was outscored 14-0 in the fourth quarter, managed just 41 total yards, and produced only one play of 10 yards or more in the period.
Cam Little missed a 54-yard field goal on the opening possession of the quarter, and the Jaguars got only one more drive after that. It ended in a punt when Trevor Lawrence couldn’t connect with Brian Thomas Jr. deep on third-and-11.
Denver then went 59 yards in 10 plays and bled out the clock.
Now the attention shifts to whether Hunter’s role grows from here. Coen appears to view him as a needed spark, the kind of piece who can be sprinkled into the offense when things start to stall. That usage will be worth watching when the Jaguars host Drake Maye and the New England Patriots on Sunday.
In Other News...
Jaguars Uniform Schedule Leaves Door Open For A Fan-Favorite Return
The Jaguars have already mapped out part of their look for the season, and it includes a couple of familiar favorites. Jacksonville will wear its Prowler Throwback uniforms in Week 3 against the New England Patriots and again in Week 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, while the teams Nike Rivalries jerseys are set for Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts. Those Rivalries uniforms do not count toward the NFLs limit of four alternate uniform games, which gives the Jaguars a little extra flexibility as the schedule unfolds.
What makes the announcement interesting for fans is what still isnt locked in. Jacksonville has two alternate-uniform chances left on the calendar, leaving open the possibility of another return for a look that has long had plenty of support around the fan base. The all-black uniforms remain a candidate, and with two slots still available, the Jaguars have left themselves room to decide how bold they want to get later in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Ex-Jaguars RB Already Giving Saints Fans A Reason To Worry
Travis Etienne Jr. is only two games into his New Orleans tenure, but the early returns have already given Saints fans something to watch closely. The former Jaguars running back arrived on a big-money deal, and the expectation was obvious: he would be a featured piece in the offense and a driver of explosive plays from the backfield.
Instead, the usage has been more split than seamless. Etienne has been on the field for 57% of the snaps and has shared touches with other backs, while his yards per touch is lagging behind last seasons pace. It is still far too early to label the contract a success or a miss, but the first glimpse of this new partnership has not exactly calmed the questions around how New Orleans plans to use him. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Offense Faces An Early Trevor Lawrence Test In New England
Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars offense head into Foxborough facing an early-season measuring stick against a Patriots defense that should ask different questions than the ones Jacksonville has seen so far. New England brings Drake Maye into the spotlight on the other side, but the more immediate issue for the Jaguars is whether Lawrence can handle the pressure, get the ball out on time and keep the offense on schedule in a game that figures to be shaped by field position and patience.
For Jacksonville, this is the kind of matchup that can reveal whether the system is settling in or still searching for answers. The Patriots are the sort of opponent that can force a quarterback to win with discipline rather than splash plays, and the Jaguars will need their passing game to stay ahead of the sticks while the staff weighs how aggressive to be. It is only Week 3, but games like this can tell a team plenty about where its offense really stands. [Read more 🡒]