The Jacksonville Jaguars’ offense looked absolutely stuck in neutral last Sunday, posting a pathetic 13 points in their loss to the Broncos. After that kind of faceplant, you know coaches are digging through every single play, every single player, looking for answers. And it sounds like Head Coach Liam Coen is ready to pull a specific lever: getting Travis Hunter way more involved on offense. Coen straight up admitted they are “looking at continuing to find different ways to get him involved” and promised they are “gonna look at giving him some more this week.”
The Two-Way Phenom Who Went Full Defense
Remember when Travis Hunter burst onto the scene? The dude was the No. 2 pick in 2025, hyped as a legitimate two-way phenom who could dominate both sides of the ball. We’re talking rare talent, someone who could change the game wherever he lined up. But fast forward to 2026, and through two games this season, Hunter’s offensive role has been almost nonexistent. Reports had Jacksonville planning to use him as a full-time cornerback, leaning into his “ball-hawking traits.” We saw the Jaguars’ offense explode for 34 points in their Week 1 win over the Browns, so maybe that plan seemed fine then. But after only 13 points against Denver, suddenly, the tune is changing. This isn’t the two-way guy we were promised, not yet anyway. Last year, Hunter snagged 28 passes for 298 yards and a touchdown in just seven games. This season? A single catch for eight measly yards. Talk about a downgrade in offensive opportunity.
Coen’s Balancing Act and Hunter’s Buy-In
Coen wasn’t sugarcoating things on Wednesday. He said, “Any time you struggle offensively, you look at the totality of it all. Travis is a big part of that obviously.” On Sunday, Hunter played a grand total of six snaps on offense compared to 37 on defense. Six! For a guy who was supposed to be a legitimate threat on both sides. Coen described the offense-defense split as “a balancing act that you’re continuously working through.” It makes sense for some to think a defense-first approach is smart given Hunter’s rookie year usage and a premature end to his season, plus Jacksonville’s depth chart is stacked with pass-catching talent like Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, and Brian Thomas Jr. all sitting above him. But if the offense isn’t clicking, you gotta try something different, right? And to his credit, Hunter is all in. He told Pro Football Talk after the game, “That’s the plan. Coaches tell me what I’ve got to do, I just follow their plan, follow their lead. My job is to go out there and play, no matter when they put me out there. That’s what I’ve got to do.”
So, heading into Week 3, the Jaguars are clearly looking for a spark, and it seems Coen thinks Travis Hunter can be that guy on offense. After struggling so badly last week, it’s a make-or-break moment for their attack. Can Hunter really turn the tide if given more chances, or is he destined for a defense-only role despite the offensive struggles? We’re about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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