How Did Travis Hunter Play Today? Stats and Highlights From the Jaguars Rookie’s NFL Debut vs. Panthers

One of the biggest names to watch entering the 2025 season was rookie Travis Hunter. As a unique prospect aiming to become the first player to legitimately play two positions — wide receiver and cornerback — full time, his debut with the Jacksonville Jaguars was going to attract plenty of attention.

For a franchise that has gone in the wrong direction the past two years after making the playoffs in 2022, Hunter offered a chance to turn the page. As the Jaguars dominated their season opener against the Carolina Panthers, how did the rookie fare in the first game of his NFL career?

How Did Travis Hunter Play in His NFL Debut vs. Panthers?

In what might be a sign of things to come, Jacksonville opened the season in about as impressive a fashion as fans in Duval could have hoped for. Thoroughly dominating Carolina, they blew out the Panthers 26-10 to record their first win of the year.

By comparison, the Jaguars didn’t pick up their first win last season until Week 5. With a new head coach and general manager, along with bold offseason moves, the team appears ready to embrace a new beginning.

Hunter, for his part, also showed up across the stat sheet. Suiting up for 45 combined snaps on both sides of the ball, he spent most of his time on offense. In 39 snaps at wide receiver, he was targeted eight times, recording six catches for 33 yards, an average of 5.5 yards per reception.

That wasn’t the only action the rookie logged. Carrying the unique distinction of WR/CB, he suited up on the defensive end for six snaps as well.

Travis Hunter seeing action on both sides of the ball today 🐆 pic.twitter.com/UhWgAxn9wL

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 7, 2025

His impact was subdued on the defensive end, particularly on the statistical column, as he logged just one assisted tackle. Still, Jacksonville’s defense as a whole was elite, holding Carolina to 10 points, with the lone touchdown coming in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

All in all, it was an impressive first outing from a rookie carrying sky-high expectations. His numbers will need to improve if the Jaguars want to make a serious playoff push this season.

A bigger test for the Jaguars will come in Week 2 when they take on another playoff hopeful in the Cincinnati Bengals. However, Cincinnati’s weak defensive unit should give the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft an opportunity to put up bigger numbers.