Before the Jacksonville Jaguars faced the New England Patriots in Week 3, there were concerns about Travis Hunter and his lack of playing time this season. Sure ther former Heisman Trophy winner was coming off a season-ending injury, but it was odd to see him rotate at cornerback and barely play receiver since he had no limitations in training camp.
Compounding the issue is that general manager James Gladstone called Hunter one of 53 players on the roster, which marked a notable shift from his stance when the organization traded up for him in the 2026 NFL Draft. But just before the Jags faced New England, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Media stated that they were trying to ease Hunter back into action, and he would see an increased role in the upcoming weeks.
Hunter went on to have a strong showing, registering his first career interception. And just like that, he quelled concerns about his developement. But one thing that's barely been reported is that No. 12 remained unfazed despite the noise: All he was focused on was making a play and helping his team win.
Let your game speak, 12 🤫 @TravisHunterJr | #NEvsJAX on CBSpic.twitter.com/Cx68N1JkSb
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) September 27, 2026
Travis Hunter is focused on making plays for the Jaguars, not anything else
Travis Hunter was rightly hyped up after picking off Drake Maye, and his celebration after the play showcased it. That said, he told the press corps after the game that he was already focused on making the next play.
"I feel great, but I was on to the next play," Hunter told the local media. "That happened in the second quarter, so I had to finish the game."
Later in the exchange, Hunter made it abundantly clear that he's not giving too much thought to what he's done in the past and is instead focused on doing his job.
"I ain't got no time to be reflecting on my journey. Just got to continue to be focused, focused on where my feet are, and just go out there and play. The coaches picked me out there for a reason, so I just got to go out there and just do my job," Hunter told the media.
Hunter definitely has the right mindset. NFL players can't afford to dwell too much on the past, especially those who go in the top 5 of the draft. They need to deliver, and he certainly did in the win over the New England Patriots.
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The Jaguars have had patience with Travis Hunter, and it's paying off
Before Week 3, some talking heads on social media suggested that Travis Hunter was a bust. He isn't but was most definitely under pressure to deliver. Sure, he suffered a season-ending MCL injury at the midpoint of the 2025 season, but he hadn't made much of an impact before he had his breakout game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Couple that with the fact that the former Colorado Buffalo hadn't played cornerback full-time in 2026 even though James Gladstone said that he would, and there were doubts (valid or not) about how far in his development he was heading into Week 3.
Travis Hunter emphatically quelled concerns. Along the way, he proved that the Jaguars' approach is working, even if it's taking a bit longer than expected.
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