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Jacksonville Jaguars' Travis Hunter, team's starters to play Saturday vs. Steelers
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- Jacksonville Jaguars' Travis Hunter, team's starters to play Saturday vs. Steelers
Jacksonville Jaguars fans won't have to wait too long to see the team's biggest names suit up this year. After Thursday's practice , coach Liam Coen told media members the team will play all of its starters, including quarterback Trevor Lawrence and rookie receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter .
"We will play everybody. How long that is, we'll kind of determine how things are going a little bit. But, everybody's going to play in this game," Coen said.
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When asked if he expects Hunter to play on both sides of the ball as he's done through all of training camp, Coen answered with a simple response: "Yep."
Hunter has split his days between offense and defense, while working out individually on the opposite side of the ball during the team's special teams periods. In recent days, he's sported a penny to switch between the sides mid-practice.
Other Jaguars starters to play vs. Steelers
Coen said Jaguars center Robert Hainsey approached him in the weight room to persuade him to let the team's starters suit up. Ultimately, the first-year head coach agreed it would behoove him to play the guys, especially after hearing from more players, including Trevor Lawrence.
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"It's like, we have moving parts and pieces on the offensive line, new ones, obviously, multiple different receivers, quarterback playing first year in the system, all of that is kind of what points to that," Coen said about playing the starters.
"And look, if we had three joints and two days of work in each of those joints then we probably wouldn't be playing [starters]. But that's just kind of where we're at. So, we've got to go and probably take advantage of these opportunities."
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The Jaguars will hold a joint practice in Week 3 of the preseason against the Miami Dolphins . They've also opted not to do live tackling in practice, so Saturday's game against Pittsburgh will be the first opportunity for them to do so.
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When asked about what he will be evaluating, Coen said he wants the team to operate with a F.A.S.T mindset, meaning fundamentally sound, attacking, situational masters, tough (both mentally and physically).
"That was exactly what I just [said] to the group just now, what the evaluation would be. Fundamentals, alignment assignment, obviously situational football is going to come up as we know, but we're playing a physical team, a team that's been known for physicality regardless of whether their first [team] is in or not.
Ultimately, Saturday's game will give the Jaguars their first look at the team as a whole, but also Hunter, who is attempting to do something no other player has done in the modern era.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter to play offense and defense vs. Steelers
