Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter has undergone season-ending surgery to repair his right knee's LCL. The dual-threat wide receiver and cornerback, selected No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, showed promise in a two-way role before the injury halted his debut campaign. Coach Liam Coen emphasized it's too early to decide on Hunter's future usage.
Travis Hunter's rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars ended prematurely after he underwent surgery for a torn LCL in his right knee. The Colorado product, acquired in a blockbuster trade up to the No. 2 pick from the Cleveland Browns, logged 323 offensive snaps and 162 defensive snaps through 10 games. On defense, he recorded 15 total tackles, three passes defended, and held opponents to a 56.3% completion rate when targeted as the primary defender, with a 61.5 passer rating against.
Offensively, Hunter ranked third among rookie wide receivers in receptions and fourth in receiving yards entering Week 11. He became the second player in the last 20 years to play at least 150 snaps on both sides of the ball and the first since 2000 to amass 200 receiving yards and 10 defensive tackles in a season. However, concerns about the sustainability of his two-way role were validated by the injury.
Jaguars coach Liam Coen addressed Hunter's future during Wednesday's media session. "All of that is very premature, and at the end of the day, like every player on this roster, he'll be evaluated at the end of the season," Coen said. He added confidence in Hunter's recovery: "He’s got a lot of people that care about him. I feel very confident he will come out on the other side of this thing."
The trade for Hunter cost Jacksonville significant draft capital, including the No. 5 overall pick (DT Mason Graham to Browns), multiple running backs, and future picks. Early returns favor Cleveland, with Graham contributing 16 pressures and rookies Quinshon Judkins (561 rushing yards, five TDs) and Dylan Sampson providing backfield depth. For the Jaguars, the focus now shifts to developing Hunter primarily on one side of the ball in 2026 to maximize his elite potential.