{"id":581057,"date":"2026-04-13T05:29:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T05:29:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/581057\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T05:29:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T05:29:10","slug":"full-time-cornerback-travis-hunter-apparently-sees-his-role-with-jaguars-in-2026-differently","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/581057\/","title":{"rendered":"Full-Time Cornerback? Travis Hunter Apparently Sees His Role With Jaguars in 2026 Differently"},"content":{"rendered":"

Travis Hunter is entering his second season in the NFL after his rookie year was cut short due to a knee injury sustained in practice<\/a>. The Jaguars are expecting the 22-year-old to be back at 100% strength for training camp as he works his way back from the injury, but reports indicate that Hunter could have a different role in year two.<\/p>\n

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported over the weekend that Jacksonville intends to use Hunter as a full-time cornerback and part-time wide receiver in 2026, a contrast from last season when he played on 67% of the team\u2019s offensive snaps and just 36% of its defensive snaps before his campaign was cut short.<\/p>\n

RELATED: Reviewing the Travis Hunter Trade: How the Browns-Jaguars Draft Day Deal Looks One Year Later<\/a><\/p>\n

Hunter, however, took to social media on Sunday to cast some doubt on that report from Rapoport. <\/p>\n

\u201cNow who told you this?\u201d wrote Hunter on X in response to Rapoport\u2019s comments on The Insiders. <\/p>\n

Now who told you this? \ud83e\udd14 https:\/\/t.co\/0sIzJgrH5L<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Travis Hunter (@TravisHunterJr) April 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

It seems Hunter has not been informed of such a role change by the organization. Hunter has long said that he intends to be a full-time two-way player in the NFL<\/a>, much like he was during his standout college career.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible that Hunter is correct and that Rapoport\u2019s reporting isn\u2019t accurate. It\u2019s also possible that the team has simply not yet informed Hunter of its plans, such as was suggested by Chargers safety Tony Jefferson, who weighed in on the situation on X. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey told him that, they just ain\u2019t told you yet rook. Welcome to the league,\u201d wrote Jefferson on X, suggesting that the team may have leaked that intel to Rapoport before Hunter was even informed. <\/p>\n

They told him that , they just ain\u2019t told you yet rook. Welcome to the league<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tony Jefferson (@Tljefferson23) April 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

In 2025, Hunter caught 28 passes for 298 yards and a touchdown while playing 67% of the offensive snaps before suffering his season-ending injury. <\/p>\n

Jacksonville has a crowded wide receivers room heading into 2026. The team traded for Jakobi Meyers at last year\u2019s trade deadline<\/a> and subsequently signed him to a three-year extension. Parker Washington enjoyed a breakout season, racking up career highs across the board, and Brian Thomas Jr., though his numbers declined in 2025, is still just one season removed from an Pro Bowl campaign in his rookie year in \u201824. How much value can Hunter truly provide as Jacksonville\u2019s No. 4 receiver? <\/p>\n

Hunter can have a bigger impact on the game if he lines up as a full-time cornerback, while the opportunity for him to make plays on offense would still remain. Becoming a part-time receiver would still allow Hunter to flex his prowess as a two-way player, but would also enable him to focus more heavily on his development as a cornerback, where it seems the Jaguars would get more value out of him. <\/p>\n

Hunter\u2019s comments seem to suggest he\u2019s still determined to fulfill his goal of becoming a full-time two-way player. Do the Jaguars still feel that way, though? We\u2019ll see how this plays out as the season inches closer.<\/p>\n

More NFL from Sports Illustrated