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Expect Travis Hunter on defense more vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins
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- Expect Travis Hunter on defense more vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins
This is what they've been waiting for.
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen made it clear Wednesday morning that rookie cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter's playing time will only increase from this point forward — of course, not without a couple of caveats from time to time.
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After playing just six snaps on defense , Hunter's playing time on that side of the ball is expected to increase. Hunter played 42 snaps on offense, primarily working out of the slot in three-receiver sets.
Hunter led the team in targets and catches with six catches for 33 yards on eight targets.
HONORS: Foye Oluokun earns AFC Defensive Player of the Week award in Week 1
With the team set to face the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday for Week 2, Hunter's increase in playing time on defense would be welcomed. But, Coen said, the matchup didn't necessarily dictate what Hunter will do.
"Likely. It'll be a likely uptick. It's more so, going into Week 1 it was okay, we know that it's not going to be a ton on defense. The goal is to increase and continue to increase. It just so happens that we're playing Cincinnati with two good wideouts this week," Coen said Sept. 10 .
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Still, Hunter is set to go through a baptism by fire against the elite duo of Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase.
Since being drafted by the Bengals in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Higgins has caught 333 passes for 4,628 yards and 34 touchdowns through 71 games played (63 starts).
Chase has been even better.
After being drafted by the Bengals with the fifth-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Chase has caught 397 passes for 5,351 yards and 46 touchdowns through 63 games played (62 starts) as Burrow's top receiver. Chase led the league in catches, yards and touchdowns last year.
Travis Hunter 's increase in defensive snaps was expected
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) walks to greet fans after the game of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Panthers 26-10. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Hunter's expected increase in defensive snaps didn't come out of nowhere and was always the plan once the team worked it out after taking him with the second-overall pick earlier this year.
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Hunter trained at both positions during the team's offseason, ramping up his defensive snaps during training camp. Eventually, Hunter worked on both sides of the ball before doing the same in the team's first preseason game.
Hunter's primary focus throughout the early portion of the offseason was on offense as a receiver . He will likely remain in that role, but now the team plans to allow him to showcase his talents as a corner. Before the draft, many assumed that's where Hunter would excel, and even in limited snaps on Sunday, he impacted the game.
One of his snaps led directly to a sack by Jaguars defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot .
Coen made it clear after the game that what fans and observers saw Sunday from Hunter isn't necessarily what to expect moving forward. His role will continue to evolve.
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"I think that was Week 1, where you miss 10 days or so, and there was a lot of different kind of coverage changes in the back end for us with some of their formations, adjustments. It was a lot that those guys had to handle defensively. So it was maybe a little bit less for him this game," Coen said Sept. 7.
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen lines up against wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) during an NFL training camp session at the Miller Electric Center, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
"I think it will only continue to evolve and go more. I thought he played hard on offense. I thought he played fast. He had some good catches, ran the right route. I can only see it going and expanding from here."
Hunter is attempting to do what no other player in modern football has done. He's already accomplished more in one game than any player has in years. Against Cincinnati, his challenge will be great, but the rookie likely isn't too concerned. Especially if you take what he said after the game against Carolina at face value.
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"I just leave that up to the coaches. I just go out there when they call my number and call my name. I just go out and do my job," Hunter said Sunday.
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: Travis Hunter defense: Jaguars rookie to play more DB vs Bengals
