Jacksonville Jaguars two-way player Travis Hunter is getting the opportunity to take root with the defense. After missing nine months and a steady diet of action on both sides of the ball to start training camp, Hunter’s defensive workload has increased. He was given 37 total snaps during Day 14 of training camp, a new-high for the second-year cornerback/wide receiver. Hunter played 32 of those snaps on defense as he got a chance to go into the deep end. He was able to remain on the defensive sideline and get coaching he’d typically miss until meetings or film study instead of immediately switching back to offense.
From UDFA to main roster?: How Jabbar Muhammad is making a strong case for a Jaguars roster spot The result was a productive day as he logged a pass breakup in the final team period against rookie wide receiver CJ Williams and was able to jam Nate Boerkircher and Brian Thomas Jr. on deep routes. “We just wanted to get him the seven-on-seven work and just really hone in on a little bit more corner,” head coach Liam Coen said of Hunter. “Made a good fricking play on the out cut over there. Trying to get him more just when he's on defense and then getting some of the mental reps on defense.”
Go crazy, Trav ‼️@TravisHunterJr | @Dream_Finderspic.twitter.com/fYVnGi7xvZ — Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 13, 2026 Hunter’s best play of the day wasn’t even on a pass attempt. As the Jaguars' offense ran the ball, he found himself on an island with lineman Ezra Cleveland. Without hesitation, Hunter exploded into Cleveland’s chest to set the edge and allow his defensive teammates to swarm to the ball and prevent a long run. It was a positive sign for Hunter as he tests the limits of the added weight and strength conditioning he did during the offseason. “I gained 13 pounds. It put confidence in my mind,” Hunter said while smiling. “Whoever comes around that corner, when it's time to set the edge, I'm going to set it.” Travis Hunter talks about joint practice experience with New Orleans Saints
During joint practice last week, Hunter was beat by Chris Olave on a deep out route. Hunter took the lost rep in stride, not allowing it to alter his confidence. “I haven't been on the football field in nine months, so going out there and being able to get those reps, it felt great,” he said. “It's a lot of people out there saying, ‘Oh, he caught a ball on Travis.’ I mean, I haven’t been on the football field in nine months, what did you expect? But I just take that and just continue to go and work.” The joint practice was Hunter’s first competition against non-Jaguars in over nine months. It gave Jacksonville’s coaching staff a chance to evaluate his progress and the progress of their defense overall. It altered the team’s plan for Hunter, slightly.
"It's a lot of people out there saying, 'Ah he caught a ball on Trav.' I mean, I ain't been on the football field in 9 months, what do you expect?"@TravisHunterJr on knocking the rust off. pic.twitter.com/RMdwDWsjkB — Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 17, 2026 He was already listed as a reserve on offense and a starter on defense in the team’s depth chart last week. Not because he’s struggling on offense, but because they have several options at receiver. Defensively, the team can’t say the same. Hunter is viewed as one of their top options at cornerback alongside Montaric Brown, Jarrian Jones and Jourdan Lewis. With Lewis sidelined by an injury currently, Jones has been given more reps at nickel. It has cleared the way for Hunter to start at boundary corner opposite of Brown—something that was likely to happen anyways. “We need a lot of the communication, a lot of the repetition needs to continue obviously on both sides of the ball, but specifically on the defense, Coen said. “Pre-snap, post-snap on defense, there's just so much more that can go into it, especially being in unison and being in connection.” Hunter is coached hard by defensive backs coach Matt Araujo, but he said he likes it. Araujo will frequently make Hunter and other defensive backs repeat drills if it’s not to their standard. The work he’s put in individually is showing up in team drills as he displays positive flashes daily and as he continues to get “back to Trav.” “I needed to knock the rust off, like I said earlier. I’ve got to get better somehow, somewhere,” Hunter said. “I definitely took my time to hone in on one today and that was defense. Get better, get my feet up under me. Can't let anybody catch the ball, so that's my motto right now, just continue to focus and get better.” This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Why Travis Hunter's defensive workload ramped up for Jaguars