Jaguars to use Travis Hunter as every-down receiver, situational corner for Week 1

The Jacksonville Jaguars plan to use rookie Travis Hunter as an every-down wide receiver and a situational cornerback in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers, the team announced Saturday, a deployment designed to get the club’s prized draft pick on the field without committing to a permanent two-way role.

The decision, first reported by ESPN, is not firm for the remainder of the season; Jaguars coaches said they intend to mix Hunter’s duties on a week-to-week basis to keep opponents off balance and to manage his workload. "We're going to have to figure it out," head coach Liam Coen told reporters Friday. "We're going to have to all be flexible. We'll come up with that plan over the next 24 hours in terms like, alright, what are the exact maybe numbers we want to hit on both sides or usage?"

Jacksonville selected Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after a college career that showcased his versatility. Hunter has publicly sought opportunities to play both offense and defense at the professional level, and the Jaguars have acknowledged that balancing those roles will require regular adjustments.

Coaches said they have been setting Hunter’s usage on a weekly basis so far as they evaluate what works in practice and game conditions. The club also has been managing minor setbacks Hunter experienced during the preseason that limited some of his practice time, officials said.

The plan for Sunday will lean heavily on offense, with Hunter expected to be on the field for a majority of snaps in the receiving corps while being deployed at cornerback in packages where his skill set offers a matchup advantage. Jaguars personnel staff and coaches have emphasized that teams often tailor two-way usage to specific opponent matchups and game scripts.

Hunter’s immediate role comes amid heightened attention on how the NFL will integrate two-way players at the professional level. While special-case two-way usage has precedent in the league, most players in modern rosters specialize on one side of the ball. Jacksonville’s approach reflects a willingness to experiment in early-season situations while retaining flexibility to alter plans as the season progresses.

Coen and the Jaguars' coaching staff said they expect to finalize snap-count targets and situational assignments in the hours leading up to Sunday’s kickoff. The team plans to monitor Hunter’s conditioning and effectiveness across both roles and adjust his responsibilities in subsequent weeks based on performance, matchup considerations and injury management.

Jacksonville opens the regular season on Sunday at home against Carolina. The club’s immediate emphasis is getting Hunter integrated into the offense on an every-down basis while using him defensively in clearly defined situations, a compromise the staff hopes will provide playmaking opportunities without overextending the rookie.