Day 2 of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave Travis Hunter another defense-first workload.
Hunter did get a few starting reps at wide receiver during the 7-on-7 periods, according to John Shipley of Jaguars on SI. Jamal St.
Cyr of News4Jax also reported that Hunter hauled in a short catch from Trevor Lawrence. But once the drills shifted to 11-on-11 work, Hunter moved back to defense and stayed there for the rest of the day.
That pattern has become familiar over the past week-plus of practices. Early in camp, Hunter was still getting steady chances on offense even though most of his snaps came on defense. Lately, though, it has been close to all defense for him.
That doesn’t necessarily shut the door on wide receiver work, but it does point toward a significant defensive role in Week 1 against Cleveland. That part has long been expected, since the Jaguars have made it clear they view Hunter as a starting cornerback first.
What his receiver usage will look like remains unresolved. Hunter’s recent defensive-heavy workload does not mean he won’t play offense at all, and he still appears likely to rotate in there.
The bigger unknown is how much he’ll actually play at wide receiver in Week 1 or Week 2. That snap count could change from game to game depending on the matchup and how the action unfolds.
For now, the Jaguars have stayed committed all offseason to using Hunter as a two-way player.
In Other News...
Jaguars Preseason Finale Carries Real Stakes For Players Fighting To Survive
The preseason is winding down, and for a lot of Jaguars players, the final game is less about the scoreboard than survival. Jacksonville will meet Tampa Bay in Week 3 on Aug. 28 at EverBank Stadium, giving fringe roster hopefuls one last chance to make a case for a spot on the 53-man roster or at least earn an invitation back on the practice squad.
Among the players worth watching are undrafted rookies Joey Aguilar and Trebor Pea, both of whom have already turned enough heads to merit a closer look in the finale. Head coach Liam Coen said Aguilar had a good showing in the previous preseason game, which only adds to the intrigue as Jacksonville sorts through the final decisions before the regular season starts. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Fringe Players Have One Last Shot To Force Tough Decisions
The Jaguars get one more preseason chance to sort through a roster that still has a few real questions attached to it, as Tampa Bay comes to EverBank Stadium with kickoff serving as another checkpoint for players trying to make a late impression. It is the kind of August game that matters less for the scoreboard than for the names on the field, especially with the cutdown date looming and a regular-season opener not far behind.
For Jacksonville, the intrigue is concentrated in the spots where jobs still feel open, with competition brewing at running back, right tackle and defensive tackle. The Buccaneers have the edge on paper, but the Jaguars are more focused on the internal math, and this meeting offers one last extended look before the front office has to start turning preseason evaluation into hard decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Have One Last Preseason Problem To Sort Out Before Cuts
The Jaguars close out the preseason Friday night against the Buccaneers at EverBank Stadium, and for Liam Coen it comes with a familiar opponent on the other sideline. Jacksonvilles head coach spent last season as Tampa Bays offensive coordinator, which adds a little extra texture to a game that otherwise serves as the final tuneup before the roster has to be pared down.
Trevor Lawrence and the rest of the regulars are expected to remain on the sideline again, so the focus stays on the back end of the roster and the final decisions looming after the game. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with the contest airing on WFOX and streaming on Fubo, giving Jaguars fans one last chance to watch the depth chart take shape before cuts arrive. [Read more 🡒]