Here’s exactly how the Jaguars used Travis Hunter in the rookie’s NFL preseason debut against the Steelers
Sheder Sanders was not the only recruit of a big name to make his debut planned in the NFL this weekend. One day after the Cleveland Browns quarter Piqued his team’s competition Under the center, the former teammate of Sanders Colorado, Travis Hunter, took the field for his own opening match in 2025, while the Jacksonville jaguars welcomed the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday evening.
There were a lot of scenarios surrounding the beginnings of the Jaguars exhibition, the new head coach Liam Coen, calling for the shots alongside the quarter Trevor Lawrence at Mason Rudolph starting under the center of Pittsburgh in place of the Aaron Rodgers rest. No doubt no player had more eyes on him than Hunter, however, after Jacksonville made the star of Colorado one of the most appreciated acquisitions of the draft of the NFL 2025.
How, exactly, Hunter, was the winner of the Heisman trophy, was deployed in his first (unofficial) action of the NFL? Especially after Coen confirmed that the team intends to use the 22 -year -old as a wide receiver and cornerback? Here is a ventilation of Hunter’s Saturday performance against the Steelers, which followed many pre-match interactions with the Jacksonville crowd and the Jaguars mascot:
Open match with an offense
No surprise here, since the jaguars have listed the hunter as a wide starting receiver on their unofficial depth panel during the training camp. However, it was notable that the recruit aligned itself within the framework of team A of Coen, serving in best passage for Lawrence in front of Brian Thomas Jr. The latter ended up transporting the first pass of Lawrence against Pittsburgh, unofficially reaffirming the second year of the second year as the club n ° 1.
Featured on the first Jaguars training
Thomas caught the first ball, but Hunter led the Jaguars during their opening series in the two catches (two) and the targets (three). Its first reception took place for only three meters, and its second was technically erased by a pair of penalties from Jaguars. Her real The second catch, however, showed part of his brand slide, while he put Jacksonville in a position for a basket of 41 yards to start the scoring of the match.
Returned as a corner half of the second team
True to his unofficial position of the depth painting, Hunter removed a series after his offensive beginnings, then returned to the field as the club’s left left corner on the second defensive disc of the Jaguars. It was credited with five snaps and a missed platform on the series, which ended with a quick boost of the Steelers. The missed tackle was quite obvious; Hunter flew to the line for a head-to-head attempt against the recruit ball carrier Kaleb Johnson, only for Johnson to easily shake the corner with a steep arm.
Total snap number against steelers
- Offense: 11 snaps
- Defense: 5 snaps
NFL Futures Accessories: Jaguars Recruit Travis Hunter among the best bets of the accessories expert for the 2025 season
Sportsline staff
What does this mean for Hunter’s future?
On the one hand, the jaguars were telling the truth about their desire to let Hunter test his skills to his two college positions. This could well continue in the regular season. The order and the results of its appearances deserve to be noted, however: first, there is a reason why the jaguars allowed Hunter to align with the starters to open its beginnings of pre-season. This seems to be its most natural position at the NFL level. Or at least the position where it can translate its explosiveness without seam – and immediately -.
This does not mean that Hunter cannot or will not become a featured man of cover, but all the indications are that he will make splashes in attack faster. A missed tackle does not change the fact that he is a gifted athlete, but in the NFL, there is a case to do so that pure athletics is better translated in an offensive role, where Hunter can focus more on the Slenoux and the overtaking rather than on opposing players.
