Travis Hunter returns to Jaguars practice in limited role, flashes two-way potential

Travis Hunter returned to the practice field with the Jacksonville Jaguars on July 29, taking part in the first day of training camp nine months after an LCL injury ended his rookie season. The two-way player worked with both the offense and defense, logging 12 total snaps, and showed no visible hesitation in his first full-contact team period since October 2025.

Hunter, who appeared in 10 games as a rookie before the injury, spent the individual position group period with the defensive backs and later worked with the wide receivers during special teams periods. Head coach Liam Coen said the team has designed a detailed practice schedule to manage Hunter’s workload while still giving him the double reps necessary to prepare for a regular-season role on both sides of the ball.

“We’ve been extremely intentional about it,” Coen said after practice, pulling out a folded practice schedule with Hunter’s reps highlighted. “There are no hiccups, miscues.”

Best play of the day nearly came from Hunter

Hunter’s most notable moment came during a team period when quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw a pass to him in the end zone. Hunter jumped to high-point the ball and pirouetted mid-air before coming down in bounds. However, cornerback Jabbar Muhammad knocked the ball out of his hands as he landed, preventing a catch.

Coen said he was pleased to see Hunter attack the ball without fear. Lawrence took responsibility for the incompletion, noting the throw was slightly behind Hunter, but praised the receiver’s movement and energy.

“Just good to see him back out there and he looks good. He’s flying around,” Lawrence said. “Seeing him play both sides is just always pretty cool.”

Defensively, Hunter recorded a pass breakup on rookie receiver Josh Cameron and showed recognition on a deep ball, breaking off his coverage to contest a potential catch. Coaches noted that in a game situation, Hunter likely would have laid out for an interception.

Snap count signals cautious ramp-up

According to tracking by the Florida Times-Union, Hunter took eight snaps on defense and four on offense during 11-on-11 work. The offensive snaps came on a scripted drive, while the defensive snaps were spread across multiple periods. The lopsided split is by design, Coen said, as the team prepares Hunter to handle a larger defensive load by the time the regular season begins.

Hunter spent the spring recovering from the LCL injury and did not participate in the team’s offseason program. Instead, he attended virtual meetings and studied film, which the coaching staff said helped him avoid the rust typical of a player returning from a long layoff.

Key facts

Why this matters for Jaguars fans

Hunter’s return is the most closely watched storyline of Jacksonville’s camp. The 2025 first-round pick was drafted to be a two-way contributor, but his rookie season was cut short after just 10 games. If the team can manage his workload effectively during camp, Hunter could become a unique weapon on both sides of the ball. The Jaguars’ coaching staff has shown a willingness to use him in creative ways, and the early returns from Day 1 suggest his athleticism and instincts have not diminished.

The next milestone is the mock game on Aug. 7, after which the team will evaluate whether to increase Hunter’s practice reps. Coen said the plan is flexible but emphasized that the priority is long-term health.

Source: Yahoo Sports – https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/travis-hunters-return-field-team-172723661.html