Jacksonville Jaguars are not abandoning the Travis Hunter two-way experiment. They are restructuring it.
Hunter, the No. 1 overall pick, was expected to be the NFL’s first true two-way star since the merger. The Shohei Ohtani comparison was inevitable.
It is not going according to the preseason script.
NFL.com reported this week that Hunter tried placekicking during a joint practice. The result was, by all accounts, below average. “We finally found something Travis Hunter doesn’t excel at,” the report stated.
The kicking attempt was a publicity stunt. It backfired.
It also revealed a coaching staff willing to test every limit of their prized asset.
NBC Sports reported that the Jaguars have Hunter practicing mostly at cornerback. This is the pivot. The team is prioritizing defense.
This is not a concession. It is a foundation.
Lockdown cornerbacks have a higher floor in the NFL than rookie wide receivers. A cornerback can impact every snap. A receiver depends on the quarterback and the play call.
Hunter’s athletic profile translates more immediately to defense. His ball skills are elite. His recovery speed is rare.
The offensive packages will come later. The Jaguars are sequencing the deployment.
Ohtani did not pitch every day. He pitched once a week and served as designated hitter on other days. The usage was scheduled. It was situational.
The Jaguars are applying the same logic. Hunter will not play 120 snaps per game. That is a fantasy.
The Athletic reported the team remains bullish on Hunter’s long-term trajectory. The coaching staff believes his football IQ can handle the load. They are betting on his processing speed.
The risk is real. Injury. Mental fatigue. Stunted development in both positions.
If Hunter plays 60 defensive snaps, how many offensive snaps can he handle? Ten. Maybe fifteen. Red-zone targets. Third-down packages.
That is the minimum viable product.
Team chemistry is a factor. The offense may feel slighted. The defense must trust him to learn the playbook quickly.
There is no precedent for this. The NFL has never seen a player do both at a high level in the modern era.
The coaching staff is gambling on athleticism and intelligence. They are also managing the workload with precision.
The “Ohtani Experiment” is not crumbling. It is evolving.
The real test comes in the regular season. If Hunter locks down receivers on defense and scores a handful of touchdowns on offense, the gamble pays off.
If he looks lost in either phase, the narrative will shift to failure.
What is the minimum viable product for a successful Travis Hunter season? Ten interceptions and five touchdowns? Eight passes defended and eight touchdowns?
The answer is unclear. The Jaguars are betting they find it before Week 1.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Why are the Jaguars moving Travis Hunter to cornerback?
- A: Cornerback offers a higher immediate floor in the NFL, allowing Hunter to impact every snap with his elite ball skills and recovery speed, unlike receiver which depends on quarterback play.
- Q: Is the two-way experiment completely abandoned?
- A: No, it’s restructured. The Jaguars are sequencing his usage—prioritizing defense now and adding offensive packages later, similar to how Ohtani pitched on a schedule.
- Q: What happened with Travis Hunter’s placekicking attempt?
- A: Hunter tried placekicking during a joint practice, but results were below average, described as a publicity stunt that backfired, revealing coaches’ willingness to test his limits.
Extended Reading
The Athletic: Why the Jaguars aren’t giving up on Travis Hunter becoming NFL’s Shohei Ohtani
NFL.com: Jaguars two-way star Travis Hunter tries hand at placekicking
NBC Sports: Jaguars have Travis Hunter practicing mostly at cornerback