Travis Hunter to Get More Defensive Snaps vs. Joe Burrow, Bengals, Jaguars HC Says

The Jacksonville Jaguars are still tinkering with how they deploy rookie wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter, and there will be a slight change for their Week 2 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Per ESPN's Michael DiRocco, Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said Hunter's number of defensive snaps will "likely uptick" after he played just six snaps at cornerback in Sunday's season-opening 26-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Coen explained that Hunter playing more on defense this week coincides with their season-long plan to gradually increase his snaps on that side of the ball.

"Going into Week 1 it was, 'OK, we know that it's not going to be a ton on defense,'" he said. "The goal is to increase and continue to increase [his defensive snaps]. It just so happens that we're playing Cincinnati with two good wideouts this week."

Coen was referring to the Bengals' star receiving duo of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Cincinnati is coming off a 17-16 win over the Cleveland Browns in this past Sunday's season opener, and star quarterback Joe Burrow was limited to just 113 yards and a touchdown while Chase and Higgins combined for just five catches for 59 yards. It can be expected that they all will be extra motivated to boost their numbers when they take on Jacksonville.

In his NFL debut, Hunter spent most of his time on offense, playing 42 snaps and recording a team-high six catches for 33 yards on a team-high eight targets. He also had a tackle in his brief time on defense. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner became the first player since Antonio Cromartie in 2012 to play wide receiver and cornerback in the same game, but he's still striving to prove that he can be the first full-time two-way player in NFL history.

"I did my job. That was the main focus, me doing my job," Hunter said after Sunday's win. "I did what they asked me to do, and I know I could do more and I know I could do better."

It sounds like Hunter will have the chance to show more of his skills on both sides of the ball this week, so fans will surely be excited to see what he can do against the Bengals.