Jaguars' Hunter stays unfazed by noise over his two-way play - ESPN

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The debate over whether Travis Hunter will or should play on both sides of the ball reignited this spring: Are the Jacksonville Jaguars making a mistake having him do that? Should he just play cornerback? Or just receiver?

Hunter brushed aside the noise, just as he has since the Jaguars drafted him with the second pick in 2025.

«It didn't bother me,» Hunter said Wednesday afternoon. «They've been doing that my whole career.»

Hunter, who spoke during an appearance at a Jacksonville Planet Fitness to promote the gym's High School Summer Pass program, made his first public remarks since a postgame news conference following the Jaguars' 35-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at London's Wembley Stadium on Oct. 19. A lot has happened since then: Hunter suffered a season-ending torn lateral collateral ligament in his right knee during an Oct. 30 practice, underwent surgery on Nov. 11, rehabbed during the rest of the season and began participating in the team's offseason program on a limited basis.

Through all that, the Jaguars were firm in their position on Hunter's role in 2026: He is needed more as a cornerback and will be a starter on defense but will definitely get time on offense. General manager James Gladstone said it in January, and he and head coach Liam Coen have reiterated it during multiple podcast appearances and interviews.

What happened during and after Tuesday's first organized team activity was further proof of their commitment. Hunter spent the entire two-hour workout with the offense. He didn't have a helmet or participate in anything other than individual drills, but he did join the huddle to hear the playcall and then jogged behind the formation and lined up in the correct spot as if he