Travis Hunter’s teammate speaks his mind on rookie’s two-way ambitions

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter is chasing history. The No. 2 overall pick is attempting something no player has done on a full-time basis since the 1960s: play both wide receiver and cornerback in the NFL. While the challenge has fans buzzing and coaches cautiously optimistic, Hunter’s teammates are already making sure he’s prepared for the grind.

“I want him on offense”

Second-year wideout Brian Thomas Jr., who quickly established himself as the Jaguars’ No. 1 receiver last season, has had a front-row view of Hunter’s progress. Speaking on “The Pivot Podcast”, Thomas explained that he urges Jacksonville’s receivers to give Hunter their best shot whenever he lines up on defense.

“When he’s out there on defense, I’m talking to the receivers, ‘Make sure you all go at him. Don’t go off because he’s just him,’” Thomas said. “Still push on him because at the end of the day, this is what he wants to do. We’ve got to make sure he’s at the top of his game. We’ve got to make sure he’s getting better each and every day.”

Hunter showed flashes of that potential in the Jaguars’ preseason opener, logging snaps on both sides of the ball - one series at wide receiver, two at cornerback. For now, Jacksonville continues to experiment with how much the rookie can realistically handle in a full-time two-way role.

As much as Thomas admires Hunter’s willingness to take on both challenges, he admitted he has a selfish preference for where Hunter should spend more time.

“Me selfishly, I want him more on the offensive side,” Thomas said with a laugh. “Help me out a little bit, attract some of those coverages.”

If Hunter leans toward wide receiver, the Jaguars could boast one of the NFL’s most dangerous young duos with Thomas and Hunter stretching the field. Thomas already looks like a budding star after his standout rookie season, and pairing him with Hunter would give quarterback Trevor Lawrence another explosive option.

Lawrence himself has joked about the situation, saying earlier this offseason that if Hunter plays cornerback, he’ll just target him on every play until the rookie is moved back to offense.

Hunter’s two-way ability was a defining storyline of his college career at Colorado, where he excelled under Deion Sanders’ watch. But the NFL presents a different level of physical and mental demands, and no player has successfully carried that kind of workload in more than half a century.

For now, the Jaguars appear committed to letting Hunter find his balance. Head coach Liam Coen has been noncommittal on how heavily Hunter will be used on either side of the ball during the preseason. The team is clearly taking a cautious approach after Hunter played 18 total snaps in his debut.

The big question heading into the regular season is not whether Hunter can play both roles, but whether the Jaguars will truly let him. If Hunter leans toward offense, Thomas and Hunter could form one of the league’s most exciting tandems right away.

Fans will get their first real answer when the Jaguars open the regular season on Sunday September 7 against the Carolina Panthers.

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