Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter drew a lot of attention before the season with his goal to be a two-way star in the NFL, and head coach Liam Coen has been left to manage the situation. The most significant debate around the topic is the injury factor, which proved problematic even in Hunter’s first year.
How does Coen feel about the two-way star’s prospects?
Jaguars HC Still Optimistic About Travis Hunter Playing CB, WR Despite Injury
Fears around Hunter playing both cornerback and wide receiver proved legitimate this season, as the rookie suffered a knee injury mid-season following their loss against the LA Rams. As a result, he missed the rest of the campaign to recover, and now, questions linger about how he’ll be used down the line.
Coen weighed in on the situation, emphasizing the unique challenge the coaching staff faces in figuring out how to use the youngster.
“The best thing is, not that he got hurt, but that he got hurt and we could still have success,” he said on “The Pat McAfee Show”. “So now we have the privilege of, [while] he’s still rehabbing, going through the whole process, [we can ask] ‘Where is this truly going to help us take the next step?’ Like, ‘What’s actually going to help us get over the hump from time, allotment for him, practice, schedule, playing on Sundays — what’s the best for our team and for the Jacksonville Jaguars going in on Sunday?”
Interestingly, the Jaguars had more success during Hunter’s absence compared to when he was playing. They went on an eight-game winning streak after losing to the Houston Texans, a sign of sound roster depth beyond Hunter.
“And that’s what it allows us to do because we do have some other pieces,” Coen added. “We do have guys who can go make plays on Sundays, and that’s what it’s all about. So, we need the help, for sure, in terms of the playmaking, the corner position — we’ll use him, he’s gonna get used. It’s just a matter of, ‘What is that dynamic?'”
Parker Washington and Brian Thomas led Jacksonville’s receiving corps this season, with both recording more than 700 yards. Their production allows Coen the flexibility to utilize Hunter in a variety of ways, which he believes will be no problem.
“I think he’s absolutely gonna be able to [play two-way],” the coach insisted. “He has the craziest conditioning of any athlete I’ve ever been around. He doesn’t get tired, he doesn’t sweat — it’s kind of crazy.”
The Jaguars finished with an impressive 13-4 record this season (76.6 PFSN Offense Impact), leaving many around the NFL curious about what they can achieve next season.
