Travis Hunter, drafted by the Jaguars to be that electric two-way player, spent Sunday’s win over the Bengals locked in on defense. Seriously, the guy played every single snap on defense, didn’t touch the field on offense at all, and wasn’t even out there for special teams. It’s a huge shift from what everyone expected, seeing how he’s mostly been a cornerback this year, but this past game solidified it: defense is where Hunter lives right now.
Hunter Dominated on Defense, But Was Held Back for a Reason
Don’t get it twisted, Hunter absolutely balled out when he was on the field. He was one of the best players out there defensively. We saw an interception that got called back because of a penalty, multiple pass breakups that were just *chef’s kiss*, and he was laying down some hard hits all game long. Coach Liam Coen was hyped, saying, “He played his ass off today. He had the pick that was called back, he had a ton of PBUs, he had the huge tackle, ended up knocking the dude o.” The dude was a beast.
So, why the one-sided approach? Turns out, it was all about protecting the guy. Coen laid it out straight: cornerbacks Montaric “Buster” Brown and Christian Braswell were both sidelined with injuries. That left the team thin, and Hunter became absolutely critical to the secondary. “We knew with Buster being down and Braswell being down, he was going to play every single snap of the game,” Coen explained. The coaching staff even had offensive plays drawn up for him, but the risk was just too high. Coen admitted, “We had some things for him on offense, but we just didn’t feel like putting him out there , if he gets hurt on offense, we’re in a real bad spot. So didn’t want to put ourselves at risk there.” They needed him healthy on defense, plain and simple.
The ‘Real Bad Spot’ and What It Means for Hunter’s Two-Way Hopes
Coen’s honesty about being in a “real bad spot” if Hunter got hurt on offense tells you everything you need to know about the situation. The Jaguars are relying on him *that* heavily on defense. While it’s awesome to see Hunter excel at corner, it’s gotta sting a little for fans who were hyped to see his two-way talent unleashed. He was drafted for both sides of the ball, and now, out of necessity, that dream is on hold.
Moving forward, the big question is how long this defensive-only role lasts. When the other corners get healthy, does Hunter get his chance on offense again? Or has his defensive performance been so crucial that the team just can’t risk him anywhere else? It’s a tough call, but for now, it’s clear the Jaguars see Hunter as too valuable to put in harm’s way for a few offensive snaps. His defensive play is saving them, even if it means sacrificing his two-way potential for the time being.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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