Jaguars Use Travis Hunter Mostly on Defense
Jacksonville deployed its No. 2 overall pick primarily at cornerback in the first half of Thursday night's game against Baltimore.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Football
The Jacksonville Jaguars used rookie Travis Hunter primarily on defense in the first half of Thursday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens. Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, recorded four tackles from his cornerback spot and had no targets on offense.
Why it matters
Hunter's dual-role usage draws attention to how Jacksonville is deploying one of its highest draft picks. The first-half workload on defense signals the team's willingness to use him at cornerback in a national-television game.
Hunter recorded four tackles and zero targets in the first half against Baltimore, per the in-game box score. Second-half usage and full-game snap totals were not available at time of reporting.
The players
Travis Hunter
Travis Hunter is a two-way prospect who won the Heisman Trophy at Colorado before the Jaguars selected him second overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are an NFL franchise based in Jacksonville, Florida, that plays its home games at EverBank Stadium.
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are an NFL franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland, that has won multiple AFC North championships in recent seasons.
The details
Jacksonville lined Hunter up at cornerback for most of the first half of Thursday's game against the Ravens rather than at his wide receiver position. He was active and on the depth chart at receiver, but he did not see a target in the half.
Timeline
2025: Travis Hunter was selected No. 2 overall in the NFL Draft.
Thursday: Jacksonville played Baltimore in Thursday Night Football.
Season Trajectory
Hunter's two-way usage recalls Deion Sanders, who played both cornerback and wide receiver in the NFL during the 1990s. How Jacksonville balances those roles will shape how the rookie's development factors into the team's competitive standing this season.
Hunter's zero first-half targets mean he produced no receiving stats in this game, which matters for fantasy managers tracking him as a receiver. Anyone rostering him should watch whether his second-half usage shifts toward offense.
The takeaway
Two-way rookies often face a split workload that affects both their production and their development, so the balance Jacksonville strikes will be worth tracking. Readers following Hunter should watch for changes in his role across the coming weeks.
Further reading
For more on the Jaguars' season, see our Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
