Travis Hunter Ready for NFL Week 1 After Upper-Body Injury Recovery, Jaguars GM Says

Travis Hunter will be on the field when the Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Carolina Panthers in their season opener on Sept. 7.

Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said Wednesday that Hunter is healthy and will be available after he dealt with an upper-body injury during training camp and the preseason, per Demetrius Harvey of the Florida Times-Union.

Hunter will be one of the most intriguing storylines of the entire NFL season after Jacksonville selected him with the No. 2 overall pick, especially if he is successfully able to play on both sides of the ball.

He thrived in that role at Colorado and took home the 2024 Heisman Trophy and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. The Defensive Player of the Year award underscored his effectiveness at cornerback, and he finished at wide receiver with 96 catches for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns.

It is unrealistic to expect him to put up those types of numbers in his rookie season against NFL competition, but the Jaguars have not been shy about their intention to use him on both sides of the ball.

They surely envisioned just that when they traded into the No. 2 pick, as having someone who can play well on both sides of the ball is incredibly valuable when constructing a 53-man roster.

Expectations will be high for the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, but head coach Liam Coen already said during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show that he believes he can win the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards this season.

Offensively, Hunter figures to benefit from the presence of fellow wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Opposing defenses will surely line up their best defensive backs against the LSU product, which should create favorable matchups for the rookie.

It wouldn't be a surprise if he gradually worked his way into more snap counts as the season progresses, especially after missing time in training camp and the preseason, but all indications are he is ready to go and chase those Rookie of the Year awards.