Training camp has already delivered one of its first eye-catching Travis Hunter moments, and the rookie’s defensive usage is starting to tell a bigger story.
On Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback/wide receiver picked off a Trevor Lawrence pass with a leaping grab at camp, according to Garry Smits of the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union. It was unofficially Hunter’s second interception of camp, and Smits reported that both the crowd and Hunter celebrated the play before it ended his final defensive snap of the day.
That detail matters because Hunter’s role on defense is becoming a real point of discussion. There has been talk of using him more on that side of the ball than at wide receiver this season, and his camp workload only adds fuel to that idea. Smits said Hunter has taken more defensive snaps than offensive snaps in eight of his nine full sessions.
Hunter is heading into his second NFL season after being selected No. 2 overall by the Jaguars. He spent 2024-2025 at Colorado, where he became one of the most unusual stars in college football by thriving on both sides of the ball. As a defensive back in those two seasons, he totaled 66 tackles, seven interceptions, 16 passes defended, three tackles for loss, and one forced fumble.
At receiver, Hunter was just as productive. He caught 153 passes for 1,979 yards and 20 touchdowns, and his two-way dominance earned him the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
His first NFL season in Jacksonville was interrupted by injury. In seven games, he posted 15 tackles and three passes defended on defense, while still looking for his first career interception in the league. On offense, he finished with 28 catches for 298 yards and one touchdown.
Meanwhile, Cleveland’s quarterback situation remains unsettled as preseason enters its first full week. The Browns’ competition appears to be centered on Deshaun Watson, Dillon Gabriel, and former Colorado standout Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders played for Colorado from 2024-2025 and left Boulder with 7,364 passing yards and 13 touchdowns. His 71.8 completion percentage is the highest in FBS history, and he was named the 2024 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
After that season, Sanders entered the 2025 NFL Draft and was taken by the Browns in the fifth round.
As a rookie in Cleveland last season, Sanders appeared in eight games and started seven. He threw for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns, and now he is part of a quarterback battle under new head coach Todd Monken.
“It’s close,” Monken said to USA Today. “People somehow think I have some hidden agenda, or like there’s some preconceived notion.”
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Trevor Lawrences Saints Week Focus Says A Lot About Jaguars Plans
Trevor Lawrences preseason routine is starting to look different, and it says plenty about how the Jaguars are trying to manage their quarterback heading into the new season. Rather than leaning heavily on game snaps, Jacksonville is giving more weight to daily practice work and the kind of controlled, competitive reps that come in joint sessions, with the Saints now serving as a key part of that plan.
For Lawrence, the appeal is obvious: those practices can feel closer to game speed without the same exposure that comes with preseason action. For the Jaguars, the goal is just as clear, reducing injury risk while still giving the offense enough work to sharpen timing and find its rhythm before the games count for real. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Camp Is Starting To Reveal A Very Different Offensive Plan
Two weeks and nine practices into camp, the Jaguars are starting to show what their offense might actually look like once the games count. Parker Washington has been the most noticeable receiver so far, and the early reads from camp suggest he is moving toward a bigger role than many expected. The running back mix also looks far less rigid than a traditional pecking order, with Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez Jr. and LeQuint Allen all in line to share work.
Travis Hunter is adding another layer to the picture by practicing extensively at both wide receiver and cornerback, which makes Jacksonvilles personnel usage even more interesting to track. The setup points to an offense that may lean on flexibility and matchup-driven usage more than fixed roles, especially in passing situations and on early downs. For a team still sorting out who will be where when the season opens, camp has already made one thing clear: the Jaguars are not building this group in a conventional way. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Give Grant Udinski A Bigger Stage In Preseason Opener
Grant Udinski is getting a meaningful early test in Jacksonville, and it comes before the games start counting. The Jaguars offensive coordinator will handle full play-calling duties in the preseason opener against the Saints on Aug. 15, giving him a bigger stage as he continues to settle into a larger role with the team. He has already done it once, having called plays in Jacksonvilles final preseason game last season, but this opportunity arrives with a little more attention attached after a busy offseason that included head coaching interviews.
The timing makes it even more interesting for the Jaguars, who will also spend Aug. 13 in a joint practice with New Orleans before the exhibition game. Those two days should offer a cleaner look at how the offense functions with Udinski directing things from the sideline and how much of the system is ready for live reps. For a coordinator who had chances to leave but opted to stay in Jacksonville, the first preseason game is more than routine work. It is a chance to show what the Jaguars can expect when the offense is put in his hands. [Read more 🡒]