Jaguars deploy Travis Hunter on offense and defense in preseason debut

Travis Hunter makes his NFL debut for the Jaguars as a two-way player in a preseason game.

Jaguars deploy Travis Hunter on offense and defense in preseason debut

Jacksonville opened with Hunter on offense, using him as a full-time starter on the first drive. He played 11 of 12 snaps on that opening march, catching two passes for nine yards as part of the early sequence. He did not stay with the starting defense on that first series, but when Pittsburgh got the ball again Hunter moved to cornerback for the ensuing drives, marking the start of a potential two-way role in the regular season. The Steelers won the game 31-25, and Hunter’s night concluded after a pair of early targets and a handful of defensive snaps, underscoring the team’s plan to test him on both sides of the ball during August.

The Jaguars have traded up to draft Hunter second overall with the explicit intent of using him as a two-way contributor. That approach is framed as an extended experiment rather than a one-off showcase, reflecting Jacksonville’s belief that Hunter’s college versatility can translate to the pros. The game also included other rookie action across the league, from Cam Ward’s debut with Tennessee to Justin Fields guiding the Jets, highlighting the broader theme of evaluating young players under the bright lights of August.

Jacksonville’s bet on a two-way rookie stands at the edge of football tradition and modern experimentation. If the plan works, Hunter could become a blueprint for roster flexibility, allowing a single player to impact both facets of the game. If it falters, health, consistency, and development could suffer as a rookie bears the load of two demanding roles. The challenge isn’t just talent but scheduling, coaching, and medical support to prevent burnout while maintaining performance. The move also presses competitors to rethink how they train, scout, and preserve young talent under the summer glare while ensuring the player’s long-term value stays intact.

Ultimately this is less about a single preseason night and more about the NFL testing a principle: can high-end athleticism and refinement on both sides of the ball coexist at a high level? If Jacksonville proves the model viable, it could widen the talent funnel and change how teams evaluate dual-skill athletes. If not, it may reinforce the idea that some roles belong to specialists and that the league values sustainability as much as spectacle.

Highlights

The experiment will unfold over the next weeks and into the season, with patience and planning as key ingredients.