Travis Hunter is coming off a disappointing rookie season that was reduce brief by an damage, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are reportedly planning to vary the two-way star’s function heading into 2026.
Hunter performed each offense and protection final season, which was all the time the plan when the Jaguars traded as much as draft him at No. 2 total. The previous Heisman Trophy winner performed extra snaps at large receiver than cornerback, however that isn’t anticipated to be the case subsequent season.
Cameron Wolfe of NFL Community reported on Friday that the Jaguars intend to have Hunter predominantly play cornerback in 2026. Hunter will nonetheless get snaps at large receiver.
“He’ll play either side once more in 2026. The large change could come within the utilization,” Wolfe mentioned. “From what I perceive, they plan to play him as a full-time cornerback and part-time receiver, which is a change from final 12 months when he performed greater than double of his snaps at receiver than cornerback.”
Wolfe added that Jacksonville is planning to let no less than one in all Montaric Brown or Greg Newsome II stroll in free company, which might pave the best way for Hunter to enter the season as a beginning cornerback.
Damage considerations could also be an element
Hunter suffered a non-contact knee damage main as much as Week 9 this season. Many have been skeptical that he would survive a full season taking part in each offense and protection, and he barely made it to the midway level.
The Jaguars assured Hunter after they drafted him that they are going to permit him to be a two-way participant. As of now, it seems like head coach Liam Coen nonetheless plans to honor that. But when Hunter exhibits indicators of wear and tear and tear early on in 2026, it might not be a shock if the Jaguars ask him to focus solely on taking part in cornerback.
Hunter’s bodily expertise is off the charts, which is why he thrived as a two-way participant at Colorado. There’s additionally a cause gamers are virtually by no means used on each offense and protection within the NFL. Each the bodily and psychological toll are often an excessive amount of to beat, and you possibly can argue that Hunter already felt the consequences of that as a rookie.
Hunter completed the 2025 season with simply 28 catches for 298 yards and a landing. He could spend much less time working with QB Trevor Lawrence and extra time honing his defensive abilities within the coming months.
