Travis Hunter is preparing for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 2026 Week 4 game against the Cincinnati Bengals after recording the first interception of his career. Hunter played a career-high number of defensive snaps in Week 3 against the New England Patriots, making the red-zone interception during a 14-3 Jaguars halftime lead. Jacksonville practiced Thursday at the Miller Electric Center ahead of Sunday’s game at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Cincinnati Bengals both entered Week 4 with 2-1 records. Hunter said his preparation remains focused on competing and executing his assignment rather than on individual attention.
“Just go out there and compete,” Hunter said. “Just be the best person I can be, and we just got to go out there and do our job.”
Jacksonville Jaguars prepare for Ja’Marr Chase challenge
The Jaguars secondary will face Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase on Sunday. Hunter said Jacksonville’s defensive approach remains centered on doing its job and containing the opposing offense within the team’s structure.
“It’s really not about him right now,” Hunter said. “We just have to do our job. He’s going to do his thing, but we just have to contain him and just be able to do what we do.”
Red-zone defense has produced back-to-back takeaways
Jacksonville has held opponents to a 20.0 percent red-zone efficiency through Week 3, the second-lowest rate in the NFL. The Jaguars also have recorded red-zone interceptions from the secondary in consecutive weeks.
Jourdan Lewis intercepted Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix in the end zone shortly before halftime in Week 2. Hunter followed with his end-zone interception against the New England Patriots in Week 3, helping the Jaguars preserve their 14-3 halftime lead.
Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said the defense continues to play each snap rather than treating a red-zone possession as finished before the final stop.
“They’re not in until they’re in,” Campanile said Thursday. “And I think those guys have a mentality in that room of continuing to play the next play.”
Campanile also credited the defense’s character, focus and trust. He said players remain engaged through every down and rely on the teammate responsible for making the next play.
“That’s really more of a credit to the character of the guys,” Campanile said. “They’re locked in, whether it’s first down, second down, third down, fourth down. In the low red, they know if they do their job, they trust one another that the guy next to them is going to do his.”
“All great defenses are built on trust. And I’ve said this to you guys before, but trust is gained in drops and it’s lost in buckets.”
Hunter’s role continues to develop
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Hunter No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. His career-high defensive workload in Week 3 and first career interception marked his biggest week at cornerback since Jacksonville selected him.
Hunter’s comments after Thursday’s practice reflected the team-first approach Campanile described. The wide receiver and cornerback emphasized competing, doing his job and trusting the Jaguars’ defensive structure against Cincinnati.
Offensive coordinator Grant Udinski and Campanile spoke to the media before practice, while Hunter was among the players who spoke afterward. Jacksonville will travel to Paycor Stadium for Sunday’s meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals.
FSB Take
The Jacksonville Jaguars enter the Cincinnati Bengals game with a verified defensive strength in the red zone and back-to-back interceptions from the secondary. Hunter’s first career interception and increased defensive workload add an important storyline to the matchup, but Jacksonville’s defensive trust and execution will remain central against Cincinnati. Sunday’s game will test the Jaguars’ 2-1 start against another 2-1 team.
Source: Original report