The Jacksonville Jaguars are reportedly looking to switch things up with Travis Hunter in his second year as a player. The former Heisman Trophy winner, now 22, is still expected to alternate between roles, but it seems like the frequency of these plays is set to change.
According to sources, the team plans to focus on using him primarily as a cornerback while still utilizing him as a part-time receiver. This marks a significant shift from last year when Hunter’s role leaned heavily toward receiving, logging over twice as many snaps in that position compared to cornerback. It was noted in a report from Friday.
Last season, Hunter was performing well until he sustained a season-ending injury during practice before Week 9. During the seven games he played, he participated in 67% of the Jaguars’ offensive snaps and 36% of their defensive snaps. After undergoing LCL surgery, he is expected to make a full recovery soon.
The Jaguars have two cornerbacks, Montarick Brown and Greg Newsome II, in free agency and it appears they might let one go to make room for Hunter.
In the meantime, on a different note, there was a court ruling that Brian Flores’ discrimination lawsuit against the NFL will proceed in open court instead of being settled in arbitration.
Concerning Hunter’s stats, he caught 28 passes for 298 yards and scored one touchdown last season. Defensively, he accumulated 15 tackles and made three pass breakups. His standout performance came during a game against the Los Angeles Rams in London, where he recorded eight receptions for 104 yards, along with one touchdown.
The Jaguars had a successful run last year, clinching the AFC South title with a 13-4 record, although they faced defeat against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card Game. As they look ahead, the team is hopeful that Hunter’s return will contribute positively to their momentum from last season.
