Travis Hunter’s NFL start has already turned into a conversation nobody expected this early.
Nine games into his pro career, the 23-year-old is getting called a bust by some critics, even though that label feels awfully fast. Still, the reality is that Hunter has not delivered the kind of immediate impact many expected when he entered the league as the Heisman Trophy winner from Colorado.
Injuries complicated the picture right away. A knee injury hit just a few games into his rookie season, and he wound up appearing in only seven games for the Jacksonville Jaguars last year.
The appeal was always obvious: a rare player who could contribute on both sides of the ball. So far, though, that two-way promise has not translated into the kind of production people imagined.
The numbers this season are especially rough. Through two games of his sophomore campaign, Hunter has mainly worked at cornerback and wide receiver, and the split has been uneven.
Defensively, he has been serviceable. As a receiver, he has barely been involved.
After catching 28 passes for 298 yards and a touchdown as a rookie, he has only one catch for eight yards so far this season.
That has led some to wonder whether Hunter’s long-term NFL home might be on defense full time, rather than as a two-way weapon. That was also the expectation from coach Liam Coen this season, according to the source material.
In Jacksonville’s latest loss to the Denver Broncos, Hunter logged 37 defensive snaps. On offense, he was on the field for just seven snaps. Even with the limited role, he kept his outlook steady afterward.
“My job is to go out there and play, no matter when they put me out there.”
The criticism around Hunter has also dragged Deion Sanders into the discussion. One football fan offered a blunt take on why Hunter’s NFL beginning has been so rocky:
“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,”
For now, Hunter’s slow start has become less about one bad game and more about a bigger debate over how he was packaged and projected. Whether that criticism sticks is another matter. But it’s already a loud part of the conversation.
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Jaguars Loss Exposed A Defensive Problem Fans Cant Ignore
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