The Las Vegas Raiders‘ offense and defense won’t have to worry about facing the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ two-way star Travis Hunter in their Week 9 game at Allegiant Stadium.
Jacksonville finds itself in the middle of the AFC playoff picture, but its chances of reaching the postseason have taken a hit. Head coach Liam Coen told reporters on October 31 that Hunter sustained a non-contact knee injury during practice on October 30 and will be placed on injured reserve.
“He will miss at least four games,” Coen said (h/t Pro Football Talk). “We’re currently assessing the injury just to determine the best course of action moving forward for Travis and the team.
“We’re still assessing,” Coen said. “We haven’t gotten all of the information. This just kind of got going last night when we got some information. So, we’re still waiting on further information to be able to determine how long it will be.”
Raiders Won’t Face a Confident Travis Hunter
Las Vegas had to prepare to face a Jaguars star who was beginning to find his groove in the NFL. Hunter is off to a strong start in his rookie season, making plays on both sides of the ball. He’s recorded 28 catches for 298 yards and a touchdown while adding 15 tackles and three passes defended on defense.
He’s been heavily involved, appearing in 67 percent of the offensive snaps, 35 percent on defense, and a small share on special teams. His best game so far came before the team’s bye week, when he caught eight passes for 101 yards and scored his first career touchdown against the Rams.
“Yeah, it’s definitely not ideal timing — not that any injury is ideal timing,” Coen added. “But got to believe the makeup, his general attitude toward life, how he handles dealing with specific situations — I have a lot of belief in Travis as a person, as a competitor to come back better than ever.
“You just feel bad for the guy, for the kid, for our team, for everything,” Coen added. “But he’s in good spirits right now. And a minor setback for a major comeback. That’s just the way it’s got to be.”
Raiders Were Ready to Face Travis Hunter
Before the news of Hunter’s injury, the Raiders were more than ready to account for him on offense and defense. This week, head coach Pete Carroll shared his thoughts on facing Hunter.
“He’s not just a good fast kid that can play ball,” Carroll said on a recent episode of “1 on 1.” “He’s got great instincts. That’s why he could play on both sides of the football. I remember asking him at the combine, ‘Are you worried about playing both ways?’ He said, ‘Heck no, I’ve always played both ways.‘ He wasn’t even concerned about it.
“That’s the kind of guy who has the savvy and awareness that make him unique and special, and why they went so hard after getting him. He’s the centerpiece of their offense and, in particular, defense. Maybe they’re cutting back a little on that, but offensively, he did really well last week. He’s not just a catch guy; he’s a catch-and-run guy, and he blocks, too. He’s got a good mentality about him.”
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