The Jacksonville Jaguars are continuing to develop Travis Hunter’s role at cornerback and wide receiver as they prepare to host the New England Patriots at EverBank Stadium on Sunday. Both teams entered the week 1-1, while Hunter seeks more playing time and continued improvement after returning from a season-ending knee injury.
Hunter was selected No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft and has played mostly cornerback during the 2026 season. He has also taken occasional offensive snaps as Jacksonville evaluates how to use him on both sides of the ball.
Hunter’s defensive workload remains a focus
Hunter has played 66 defensive snaps through the first two games, accounting for approximately 58 percent of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive plays. He has rotated at outside cornerback with Jarrian Jones and Montaric Brown as the team evaluates his workload from week to week.
“I’m just happy I can continue to get better,” Hunter said.
Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said additional repetitions could help Hunter continue to develop, while noting that the defensive workload can change based on the opponent and game plan. “The more reps obviously you get, the better that you’re going to be,” Campanile said.
Hunter returned in Weeks 1 and 2 after a knee injury on Oct. 30 of the previous season ended his rookie year after seven games. He said he feels more comfortable in the defense and believes that familiarity is helping him build trust with his teammates.
“I feel like I just move a lot quicker,” Hunter said. “I know a lot more than what I did last year, and I just feel like the guys are starting to trust me a little more and more every week. So just continue to just get better and be comfortable out there.”
Jacksonville Jaguars continue evaluating Hunter on offense
Hunter has played 10 offensive snaps through the first two weeks and recorded one reception for eight yards in a Week 1 victory over the Cleveland Browns. He played six offensive snaps in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Week 2 road loss to the Denver Broncos, a 20-13 defeat.
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said the team is reviewing ways to involve Hunter more consistently while also evaluating his defensive assignments and communication. “Anytime you struggle, offensively specifically, you look at the totality of it all and Travis is a big part of that,” Coen said. “We’re looking at continuing to find different ways to get him involved.”
Hunter’s exact workload against the New England Patriots will depend on the game plan. His two-way responsibilities remain part of Jacksonville’s preparation as the team seeks to build his role without overlooking his defensive development.
Jaguars prepare for New England’s backfield
The Jacksonville Jaguars have allowed 95 rushing yards per game this season and will face a New England Patriots backfield led by Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. Campanile described the two running backs as different players who present separate challenges for Jacksonville’s defense.
“They’re both great players, a little bit different, but that’s a challenge, getting in there,” Campanile said.
Campanile said Jacksonville must maintain proper eye discipline, gap integrity and team tackling against the Patriots’ running backs. “That’s definitely a challenge, because you got some guys that can break it if you don’t get your eyes right, you’re not playing with gap integrity, there’s not a team tackling mentality,” Campanile said.
Jacksonville Jaguars list five limited players
Linebacker Branson Combs missed Thursday’s practice because of a personal matter. The Jaguars listed LeQuint Allen Jr., Robert Hainsey, DaVon Hamilton, Jakobi Meyers and Cole Van Lanen as limited participants for a second consecutive day.
Allen, Meyers and Van Lanen were listed similarly the previous week and played in Jacksonville’s loss to Denver. Christian Braswell was listed as a full participant for a second consecutive day while dealing with a knee issue.
Another cornerback challenge awaits
The Jacksonville Jaguars are also preparing to face New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, identified in the source as the NFL’s highest-paid corner. Jacksonville faced Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II in Week 2, giving the team another demanding matchup on the perimeter.
Gonzalez adds another challenge to a game in which Jacksonville is balancing Hunter’s development with the need to improve its offensive consistency. The Jaguars will host the Patriots at EverBank Stadium on Sunday with both teams entering the week at 1-1.
FSB Take
Hunter’s workload is the central development to monitor when the Jacksonville Jaguars face the New England Patriots. His defensive snap share, rotation at outside cornerback and limited offensive usage show that Jacksonville is managing his two-way responsibilities carefully after his rookie season ended after seven games.
The Patriots present challenges on both sides of the ball, with Stevenson and Henderson testing Jacksonville’s run defense and Gonzalez creating a difficult perimeter matchup. The Jaguars’ preparation will show how they balance Hunter’s continued development with the demands of a 1-1 matchup at EverBank Stadium.
Source: Original report