Travis Hunter Hyped by Jaguars' Arik Armstead of Ahead of 2nd NFL Season, 'Pure Athlete'

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead is expecting his teammate Travis Hunter to "take a big step" ahead of his second NFL season under head coach Liam Coen.

Hunter played snaps at both wide receiver and cornerback during his rookie campaign before undergoing season-ending knee surgery ahead of Week 8.

"What he did, not even attempted now, was outstanding and good for our sport," Armstead said about Hunter in a Tuesday appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio's The Players Point. "He's a game-changer, probably the most naturally talented athlete— just pure talent— I've been around. I've been around some amazing ones, and so it was good our sport and it was good for our team. He adds a lot of value on both sides of the football.

"And just like with everyone's career, you're going to have your rookie ups and downs. And I think he was starting to get into his stride before he got injured. And heading into this offseason, he's looking extremely well and healing up amazingly."

Armstead continued: "Things will slow down for him, just like they do all of us, and he'll be going into his second year being in the same system, around the same coaches and knowing what is asked of him. And we know how challenging that can be as a rookie... just mastering one side of the football. So, I think in Year 2, he's going to take a huge step and help our team in a lot of different ways."

Hunter played 67 percent of the Jaguars' offensive snaps and 36 percent of the team's defensive snaps through the team's first seven games of the 2025 season, recording 28 catches for 298 receiving yards and a touchdown to go alongside three passes defensed and 15 tackles.

Those snap percentages could be reversed during Hunter's second year with Coen and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski. NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe reported in February the Jaguars planned to play Hunter as a full-time cornerback and part-time receiver in 2026.

How the Jaguars are able to implement that reported change this offseason will depend on how well Hunter has recovered from the season-ending LCL injury he suffered in practice on Oct. 30.

Hunter underwent knee surgery on Nov. 11. Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said in April Hunter would be a limited offseason participant with a goal of full participation in training camp.

Whether Hunter is able to join as a full participant when Jaguars training camp begins July 29 could impact how soon the franchise is able to test out its new plan for the former Colorado two-way star this offseason.