Travis Hunter is coming off a disappointing rookie season that was cut short by an injury, and the Jacksonville Jaguars are reportedly planning to change the two-way star’s role heading into 2026.
Hunter played both offense and defense last season, which was always the plan when the Jaguars traded up to draft him at No. 2 overall. The former Heisman Trophy winner played more snaps at wide receiver than cornerback, but that is not expected to be the case next season.
Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reported on Friday that the Jaguars intend to have Hunter predominantly play cornerback in 2026. Hunter will still get snaps at wide receiver.
“He will play both sides again in 2026. The big change may come in the usage,” Wolfe said. “From what I understand, they plan to play him as a full-time cornerback and part-time receiver, which is a switch from last year when he played more than double of his snaps at receiver than cornerback.”
Wolfe added that Jacksonville is planning to let at least one of Montaric Brown or Greg Newsome II walk in free agency, which would pave the way for Hunter to enter the season as a starting cornerback.
Injury concerns may be a factor
Hunter suffered a non-contact knee injury leading up to Week 9 this season. Many were skeptical that he would survive a full season playing both offense and defense, and he barely made it to the halfway point.
The Jaguars assured Hunter when they drafted him that they will allow him to be a two-way player. As of now, it sounds like head coach Liam Coen still plans to honor that. But if Hunter shows signs of wear and tear early on in 2026, it would not be a surprise if the Jaguars ask him to focus solely on playing cornerback.
Hunter’s physical talent is off the charts, which is why he thrived as a two-way player at Colorado. There is also a reason players are almost never used on both offense and defense in the NFL. Both the physical and mental toll are usually too much to overcome, and you could argue that Hunter already felt the effects of that as a rookie.
Hunter finished the 2025 season with just 28 catches for 298 yards and a touchdown. He may spend less time working with QB Trevor Lawrence and more time honing his defensive skills in the coming months.
