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4 clusters · 14 sources · 12 days · First seen · Last updated

Travis Hunter role with Jacksonville Jaguars

Overview

Following a Week 2 loss to the Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen indicated the team is evaluating ways to increase the offensive involvement of rookie Travis Hunter. Hunter, the 2025 No. 2 overall pick, has primarily functioned as a defensive player, recording only six offensive snaps in the Denver game. This limited usage led to public criticism from sports personality Jason Whitlock, who suggested Hunter’s two-way capabilities had been oversold. On September 26, 2026, Hunter recorded his first career NFL interception during a 35-6 victory over the New England Patriots. The interception occurred in the second quarter when Hunter intercepted a pass from quarterback Drake Maye in the end zone. Following the play, Hunter attempted to spin the football on the ground as part of a celebration. This led to a sideline confrontation when an unidentified Patriots ball boy picked up the ball. Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen approached the staffer to retrieve the ball for Hunter, resulting in a brief physical tussle near a stadium tunnel that was eventually broken up by Jaguars equipment manager George Pellicer. Discussions regarding Hunter’s role as a two-way player persist. Colorado coach Deion Sanders expressed uncertainty regarding why the Jaguars have limited Hunter’s offensive role. In response, Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Usinski indicated that expanding Hunter’s offensive involvement would depend on “balancing his defensive workload.” On October 5, 2026, Hunter played every defensive snap in a 22-17 road victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, earning a personal high PFF coverage grade of 86.9. However, he did not participate in any offensive or special teams plays. Coach Coen stated the decision to limit Hunter to defense was a “precautionary measure to avoid injury risk,” specifically citing injuries to cornerbacks Montaric ‘Buster’ Brown and Christian Braswell.

Entities

Travis Hunter · Jacksonville Jaguars · New England Patriots · Deion Sanders · Liam Coen

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. [SPORTS] 7 sources
    Jacksonville Jaguars adjust roster and player roles following Week 4 win

    The Jacksonville Jaguars are shifting Travis Hunter toward a primary cornerback role and signing Alijah Huzzie to bolster a depleted secondary following injuries and roster changes.

  2. [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Jacksonville Jaguars' Travis Hunter records first career interception

    Jacksonville Jaguars' Travis Hunter secured his first career interception against the Patriots, sparking a sideline confrontation between Jaguars' Josh Hines-Allen and a Patriots ball boy.

  3. [SPORTS] 5 sources
    Travis Hunter records first career NFL interception

    Jacksonville Jaguars star Travis Hunter recorded his first career NFL interception during a 35-6 win over the Patriots, amid ongoing discussions regarding his dual-role usage in the NFL.

  4. [SPORTS] 6 sources
    Travis Hunter's offensive role under scrutiny by Jaguars coaching staff

    Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen is exploring ways to increase Travis Hunter's offensive involvement following a Week 2 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Sources

bleacherreport.com · breitbart.com · brobible.com · heavy.com · nbcsports.com · newsday.com · nfltraderumors.co · pff.com · si.com · sportal.co.nz · sportal.com.au · sportskeeda.com · tarheeltimes.com · theshadowleague.com

This summary has been updated 4 times: see revision history