The Jacksonville Jaguars turned heads when they announced that they would be placing Travis Hunter on Injured Reserve. Sure, he had just been listed as limited in practice, but nobody would have guessed that he suffered a serious injury. It certainly was severe enough to land him on IR.
The good news is that Hunter's ACL is intact after undergoing early testing. However, several questions remain unanswered. For instance, will he return this season? For his part, Ryan O'Hallaran of The Florida Times-Union wonders whether the injury will make the Jags change how they use him in 2026.
Will the Jaguars limit Travis Hunter to one-side after his knee injury?
Ryan O'Hallaran took to Twitter to ask if the Jaguars will limit Travis Hunter to one side of the ball next year if he spends the offseason recovering. Below's the skinny:
"Thinking out loud (and I'll duck after posting it)," O'Hallaran asked on Twitter: "If this is not only season-ending, but rehab is most of if not all offseason, do #Jaguars declare that Hunter will be a one-way player in 2026?"
There's a reason he added the "I'll duck disclaimer." It probably won't be a popular proposition among fans. Heck, Hunter himself said during the draft process that he wouldn't go to a team where he would only play one position. The Jaguars made it clear that they wouldn't limit him to one said and even laid out a detailed plan to develop him.
That change, things are always fluid, and the fact that Hunter got hurt in his rookie season should make the team's brass reconsider their approach. This doesn't mean to outright abandon their original onboarding, but having the reigning Heisman Trophy winner line up on just one side of the ball cannot be ruled out.
Having said that, suggesting that Hunter got hurt because he plays two ways would be ridiculous. Virtually every player in the NFL only plays one position. Yet, they get hurt, and that's because football is a collision sport.
The Jaguars have to chose what's best for them and Travis Hunter
If the Jaguars do decide to limit Travis Hunter to one side of the ball, they'll surely take his opinion into account to make a final decision. That's the least he deserves, and if he doesn't give them the blessing, it's hard to see them change course.
It's also worth noting that just because the former Colorado Buffalo suffered a setback doesn't mean that his onboarding was a failure. He had his breakout game at receiver in Week 8 and more than held his own at corner. It was only eight weeks, but Hunter showed that he was able to handle the challenges of playing two positions. Heck, nobody would bat an eye if he returns this season and picks up where he left off.
Ultimately, the Jaguars must assess what's in everybody's best interest, and whether they discuss it publicly or not, they'll likely discuss whether Travis Hunter is better off playing just one position once he returns to the football field.