Travis Hunter’s NFL start has been rough enough that the conversation around him is already turning sharp, and Deion Sanders is getting dragged into it.
Hunter was supposed to arrive in Jacksonville as a rare weapon, the kind of player who could tilt a game on either side of the ball. Instead, nine games into his pro career, the early returns have been uneven at best.
A knee injury slowed him almost immediately, and he played only seven games for the Jacksonville Jaguars last season. The Heisman Trophy winner from his final year at Colorado still hasn’t shown that full two-way impact at the NFL level.
The numbers tell the story. As a rookie, Hunter caught 28 passes for 298 yards and one touchdown.
This season, through two games, he has just one reception for eight yards. He has looked more dependable on defense than on offense, but even that split has not produced the kind of breakout the Jaguars were hoping for.
In Jacksonville’s most recent loss to the Denver Broncos, Hunter logged 37 snaps on defense and only seven on offense. Afterward, he kept his focus simple, telling reporters, “My job is to go out there and play, no matter when they put me out there.”
That hasn’t stopped the outside noise. One football fan went straight at the situation with a blunt assessment: “Say it with me.
Travis Hunter is a bust. He’s a good kid.
Deion sold him as a 2-way player and making history…. instead of selling him as ‘go be a shutdown corner’ and maybe play a handful of offensive snaps,” the fan alleged.
Whether that’s fair or not, it’s the debate hanging over Hunter right now. He may still grow into the role Jacksonville envisioned, but for the moment, the idea of treating him like the same kind of two-way star he was in college feels like a stretch. He could end up settling in as a full-time corner, which is the kind of path coach Liam Coen expected for him this season.
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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 🡒]