The Jacksonville Jaguars gave fans a glimpse of what Travis Hunter might become at the Friday Night scrimmage. The rookie made his long anticipated two-way debut under the lights at EverBank Stadium, playing 38 total snaps split between the first-team offense and defense.
It marked the first time in training camp Hunter had played both sides of the ball in the same session, and the results were encouraging. His presence was felt more on offense than defense, but head coach Liam Coen came away with exactly what he hoped to see: poise, explosiveness, and potential.
“We got him the work that we wanted,” Coen said. “It was quality. I thought when he had the ball in his hands, he operated at a high level.”
Early Returns on Offense
GettyWhat the Jaguars Saw From Their Rookie Star
Hunter’s biggest splash came as a receiver, where he hauled in three catches for 43 yards. The highlight: a 21-yard strike from Trevor Lawrence over the middle that helped spark a red zone trip. He was also targeted in the end zone, but a slightly behind throw allowed linebacker Ventrell Miller to break it up.
Even so, Hunter’s ability in space and the talent to create yards after the catch gave fans, and coaches, something to be excited about. “Pretty cool [with the ball in his hands] in space, isn’t he?” Coen said with a smile.
Hunter worked with the first team offense on 17 snaps, a significant investment for a player still learning the playbook while balancing reps at corner. But the trust Jacksonville is placing in him as a weapon, especially in key situations, suggests he’s already earning a spot in the offensive rotation.
Quiet Night, Valuable Work on Defense
GettyJaguars Plan for Hunter Starts to Take Shape
Defensively, Hunter was less active statistically, but his 21 reps at cornerback were valuable for development. The lack of action his way had more to do with the Jaguars dominant pass rush than any struggles in coverage.
With the defensive line generating consistent pressure, backup quarterback Nick Mullens never tested Hunter’s side of the field. That didn’t bother Coen, who emphasized the value of full-speed reps in live situations, regardless of stat lines.
“That was what we were hoping to do tonight,” Coen said. “Just get him on both sides of the ball, quality work. I know he didn’t get much [action at corner] because the D-line was getting a good rush.”
Hunter’s natural instincts at corner are well-known, and the Jaguars don’t need him to be perfect now. They just need him to be ready. And getting real reps with the first unit without being exposed or targeted is a win in itself.
His flashes on offense were real. His work on defense was steady. And the fact that Jacksonville trusted him to handle both says plenty about what may be coming. Whether the team continues to split his workload remains to be seen. But based on Friday’s debut, one thing is clear: Travis Hunter has all the talent to be the NFL’s first two-way star since Chuck Bednarik in 1962.
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