Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, has been in and out of practice during the preseason due to an upper-body injury. Hunter suffered the setback during a team scrimmage on August 14, and he has been limited in his availability ever since.
Travis Hunter’s Injury Timeline and Preseason Action
Hunter did not play in the Jaguars’ preseason finale against the Miami Dolphins, as the team is taking a cautious approach to protect him ahead of the regular season.
Hunter’s injury first forced him to miss practice the day after the scrimmage and also kept him out of Jacksonville’s second preseason game against the New Orleans Saints.
Head coach Liam Coen and team officials have stressed that this is a long-term precaution to prevent Hunter from aggravating the injury and ensure he is ready for Week 1.
Jaguars general manager James Gladstone confirmed that the star rookie will be ready to play in the season opener against the Carolina Panthers.
GM Gladstone: Travis Hunter (upper body) is healthy, will play Week 1.
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) August 27, 2025
Hunter’s only preseason action came in the August 9 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he caught two passes for nine yards and took eight snaps on defense as a cornerback.
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While fans have understandably been concerned about his limited action in August, the team’s cautious strategy reflects a commitment to his long-term impact rather than short-term gains in preseason games.
For now, all eyes will remain on his recovery and readiness as the regular season approaches. If his current trajectory holds, Jacksonville can expect its rookie star to be fully available and ready to make an immediate impact when the season officially kicks off.
Hunter’s Fantasy Outlook
Hunter is a polarizing player in fantasy, especially due to his ADP in the fifth round. Supporters view him as a generational talent who is going to see a lot of playing time both at wide receiver and cornerback. Camp reports support this claim, as Hunter has consistently been making plays on both sides of the field.
Meanwhile, detractors are concerned that Hunter won’t be able to hold up with this type of heavy usage. They also claim that the former Colorado superstar is a more polished corner than a wide receiver.
My take lies in the middle. You have to treat this as a boom-or-bust pick with huge upside and a low floor. If you build your WR room to account for Hunter’s risk, perhaps taking him as your WR3, then it makes sense. But I wouldn’t suggest relying on him as your WR2 due to the risk involved.
Expect the Jaguars’ passing game to be much improved with former Bucs’ head coach Liam Coen calling the shots, so the path is there for an impressive rookie season from Hunter.

