Jaguars Navigating Travis Hunter’s Injury with Eye on the Bigger Picture
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen isn’t shying away from the challenge of losing rookie cornerback Travis Hunter to injury. If anything, he’s using it as a moment of reflection - and recalibration - for a team that’s still finding its identity.
Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick, was just starting to flash the elite playmaking ability that made him such a coveted draft prospect. According to Coen, the timing of the injury was tough - Hunter had just racked up 100 yards against the Rams and was gaining real momentum - but it also opened the door for the Jaguars to take a step back and reassess how to best integrate him when he's back to full strength.
“We didn’t want him to go down, obviously,” Coen said. “But now we get to ask the right questions: What’s going to help us take the next step? How do we manage his time, his reps, and make sure we’re maximizing what he brings to the table on Sundays?”
This isn’t just about getting Hunter back on the field - it’s about unlocking the full potential of a dynamic athlete who can impact the game in multiple ways. Coen made it clear: the Jaguars have other playmakers, but Hunter’s unique skill set will be a key ingredient in their long-term formula.
And make no mistake, Coen believes Hunter will be back - and better.
“He’s got the wildest conditioning I’ve ever seen,” Coen said. “The guy doesn’t get tired, doesn’t sweat.
It’s kind of crazy. He’s been at altitude, he’s built different.
And he works. He loves football, loves fishing - that’s pretty much all he does.”
That relentless work ethic is fueling optimism inside the building. Coen called the injury a “minor setback” and emphasized that Hunter’s mindset is all about the “major comeback.”
Even in limited action, Hunter gave the Jaguars a taste of what he can be. On defense, he’s instinctive, fluid, and looks the part of a shutdown corner.
With the ball in his hands, he’s electric - a natural playmaker who can shake defenders in space. That kind of versatility is rare, and Jacksonville knows it.
“It’s still a fine line,” Coen said. “We’re working through it.
But when you just let him go play football - he looks like exactly what he is. A difference-maker.”
Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair Undergoes Thumb Surgery
Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair recently underwent surgery on his thumb, and the procedure was reported as successful. No timetable was provided for his return, but the expectation is that he’ll be back and ready to contribute to a defense that leaned heavily on his energy and leadership throughout the season.
Al-Shaair Reacts to Saleh’s Arrival in Tennessee: “The Division Just Got a Lot Tougher”
Speaking of Al-Shaair, the linebacker had some thoughts on a familiar face landing in a not-so-welcome place - his division.
Former Jets head coach Robert Saleh is now the man in charge in Tennessee, and while Al-Shaair is genuinely happy to see Saleh get another shot, he admitted it stings a bit to see him join an AFC South rival.
“Happy for him, but I was like, golly,” Al-Shaair said. “The division was already tough, and it just got a lot tougher.
Coach Saleh is an amazing coach, an amazing person. I think he landed in a great spot in Tennessee - they’ve got a strong foundation, and I think the core guys there are going to love playing for him.”
One player in particular Al-Shaair expects to thrive under Saleh? Titans star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.
“Oh gosh,” Al-Shaair said. “The player Jeff already is - and now you put him in a scheme like that?
It’s going to elevate his game even more, which is already tough to do. He’s coming off a career high in sacks.”
Al-Shaair knows Saleh well and gave a thoughtful breakdown of what makes the coach tick - and why he believes Tennessee just landed a game-changer.
“He’s methodical, poetic in the way he moves and talks,” Al-Shaair said. “He always has a story - and somehow it always ties into what you’re going through.
He’s got this positive energy, always smiling, but he’s intense too. You respect it because you know it’s real.
He loves the game, he knows the game, and he knows how to lead.”
For a Titans team looking to reestablish its identity, Saleh brings a blend of passion, football IQ, and leadership that could resonate fast. And for the rest of the AFC South? It just means the margin for error got even thinner.