Why is Travis Hunter Not Playing?
Travis Hunter actually is playing. He gave everyone quite a scare in Week 5 against the Chiefs after tweaking his leg while defending a deep ball (yep, he was covering Xavier Worthy—because in true Travis Hunter fashion, he’s still playing both ways). For a few very tense moments, Jaguars fans, and probably all of NFL Twitter, were holding their breath. Hunter jogged off on his own, but his limp was obvious. He sat on the bench, trainers buzzing around, that classic “don’t worry, but actually worry just a little” look on his face.
The post from @SMHighlights1 on X shared that Travis Hunter left the game after suffering an injury. The update highlighted the concern over Hunter’s condition as he was forced to exit the field, but further details on the severity of the injury were not immediately provided.
Just as the narrative started spinning, Is this the end of the rookie sensation’s two-way dreams? Hunter jogged back onto the field in the fourth quarter. Relief, cheering, maybe even a fist-pump or a “let’s go!” if you’re watching from home. Disaster averted, at least for now. The Jaguars haven’t made any official statement yet, but eye-test and sideline vibes say he’s okay. Sometimes, you don’t realize how anxiety-inducing it is to see a guy sitting quietly on an NFL bench until it’s one of your team’s best playmakers.
Don’t be shocked if he’s limited in practice this week, though. NFL teams love their “precautionary measures” and “still evaluating” phrasing. But as of now, Travis Hunter is suited up and doing what he doeson both sides of the ball.
Does Travis Hunter Play Offense and Defense in the NFL?
Yes, and that’s what makes every snap so watchable. Travis Hunter’s pro journey is a continuation of his Colorado highlight reel: lining up at receiver and cornerback, even if he’s taking on a slightly different workload now. In Jacksonville, Hunter is officially a starting wide receiver (his hands and footwork: chef’s kiss) and works as a backup corner.
In a post on X, @Jason_Hamby14 shared that Travis Hunter said he was "just confused" and had to double-take when Trevor Lawrence got up after being tripped to score the game-winning touchdown.
He’s not an ironman playing every down like in college, but his two-way role is for real. He’s run plenty of offensive plays, sprinkled with defensive snaps, often on high-leverage downs or critical matchups. It’s hard not to root for a guy refusing to be just one kind of football player and while some analysts doubted this could really fly in the NFL, so far, it’s working (with the occasional “hold-your-breath” moment like today).
Let’s hope the only thing that slows this guy down is red-zone rotation, not injury. And if you ever wondered whether juggling both sides would catch up to him—well, today’s scare was a reality check, but for now, Hunter’s still standing, making football just a little less predictable, and a lot more fun to watch.
