Travis Hunter Injured, Jacksonville Jaguars Place Him on IR
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed two-way star Travis Hunter on injured reserve due to a knee injury. This decision was made following an incident during practice where Hunter suffered a non-contact injury to his right knee. Coach Liam Coen confirmed the move and mentioned that the team is still evaluating whether Hunter will be able to return to play this season.
“That, I don't know,” Coen said, adding that it's "a minor setback for a major comeback.”
Hunter had a standout performance in a recent loss to the Los Angeles Rams in London. As the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, he caught eight passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. The Jaguars (4-3) were planning to use him as their No. 1 receiver against the Las Vegas Raiders (2-5), partly because Brian Thomas Jr. leads the league with nine dropped passes.
Now, Hunter will miss at least four games. “We're currently assessing the injury just to determine the best course of action moving forward for Travis and for the team,” Coen said. “Feel bad for the guy, for the kid, for our team, for everything. He's in good spirits right now. A minor setback for a major comeback.”
The Jaguars were already dealing with injuries at the receiver position before Hunter's injury. Tim Patrick (groin) was limited in practice all week and was ruled out Friday. Thomas (shoulder) and Dyami Brown (shoulder) are expected to play despite missing time this week.
“I have a lot of confidence in these guys," Coen said. "It's a great opportunity for all of us to work through a little adversity and the guys to go out and perform at a high level. It's definitely not ideal timing, not that any injury is ever ideal timing.
“But you got to believe the mental, the makeup, his general attitude toward life and how he handles dealing with specific situations, I have a lot of belief in Travis as a person, as a competitor to come back better than ever.”
Hunter’s Impact and Performance
Hunter has played a combined 486 snaps this season, with 324 of those coming on offense. He has played 67% of the downs on that side of the ball. On defense, he has played 162 snaps, on the field 36% of the time.
He has 28 receptions for 298 yards and a score. Additionally, he has 15 tackles and three pass defenses.
Additional Team Moves
On the same day, the Jaguars also placed starting safety Eric Murray (neck) on injured reserve, meaning he will miss the next four games. The team also signed receiver Austin Trammell to the active roster from the practice squad.