Jaguars' Travis Hunter Rolls Full Speed Toward NFL Debut After Injury

Travis Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner and the second overall pick in the NFL draft, is fully recovered from an upper-body injury that sidelined him for the final two preseason games and several practices. Jacksonville Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone confirmed Hunter is practicing at full speed and ready to play both offense and defense in the season opener against the Carolina Panthers. Hunter has been utilized in the slot as a receiver and as an outside cornerback in passing situations, with coaches praising his stamina and versatility during training camp. The Jaguars remain committed to deploying him as a two-way player, providing roster flexibility and aiming for Hunter to impact both sides of the ball significantly. Despite a cautious approach during his recovery, Hunter's workload is expected to increase, building on the snaps he took during the preseason and training camp. Head coach Liam Coen has indicated a goal of Hunter playing a substantial share of offensive snaps while maintaining strong defensive contributions.