When the Jacksonville Jaguars surrendered two first-round draft picks to trade up and select Travis Hunter, the front office’s vision was clear. They believed they were securing a premier cornerback and a top-tier wide receiver, packaged into a single generational talent.
The prospect of a full-time, two-way player in the modern NFL captivated the football world. However, following a frustrating injury last season, Jacksonville is officially altering its unprecedented blueprint.
Why the Jaguars Are Altering Travis Hunter’s Two-Way Role
According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the Jaguars’ decision to scale back Hunter’s two-way workload isn’t a failure of imagination, but rather a necessary dose of reality. He played in 7 games in 2025, recording 45 targets, 28 receptions, and 1 touchdown. As a cornerback, he earned a PFSN CB Impact Metric grade of D+, ranking him 87th in the league.
The initial strategy was ambitious yet perilous. Navigating a full-time workload on both sides of the ball places immense physical demands on a player. Pelissero emphasized that the Jaguars’ recent pivot is firmly rooted in player health, particularly after Hunter’s practice injury last season.
“I don’t believe it’s so much abandoning an experiment as much as the reality that this guy suffered an injury last year in practice that you have to wonder was part of it just the load of reps and the unique way that he was practicing,” Pelissero explained.
He defended the team’s initial attempt to deploy him everywhere, noting the distinct lack of historical precedent. “There was no blueprint for giving him those reps on both sides of the football… It’s just you’re in totally uncharted territory here.”
The sheer volume of snaps required to play both ways full-time makes the feat incredibly difficult in today’s high-speed, grueling NFL environment.
The closest historical equivalent is Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, who notably contributed as a third wide receiver in 1996 while maintaining his All-Pro status at cornerback. However, Pelissero views “Prime Time” as an absolute outlier rather than a sustainable template.
“That is the exception to the rule because Deion’s one of the greatest athletes we’ve ever seen in any sport,” said Pelissero. “Travis Hunter is a really good athlete. We know that. But it was never realistic that he was going to go out and play 140 NFL snaps per game.”
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Moving forward, the Jaguars are adopting a much more measured approach to protect their massive draft investment. While Hunter will not be confined entirely to one position group, the days of expecting him to play nearly every offensive and defensive down are over.
By expertly managing his repetitions and easing his return to the field, the Jaguars hope to maximize Hunter’s electrifying potential without risking his long-term health. The two-way dream isn’t entirely dead, but it has finally been grounded in reality.
