Don’t panic, Jaguars fans—rookie Travis Hunter had a shaky start in his first 11-on-11 drills, but head coach Liam Coen isn’t worried.
Speaking to reporters after Monday’s practice, Coen praised Hunter’s accountability after a few missed assignments, noting the rookie immediately owned up to them.
“He knew right away,” Coen said. “He came off the grass and took accountability… The guy can run forever. You can tell he’s in football shape.”
Some fans have sounded the alarm after clips showed Hunter struggling to sync with quarterback Trevor Lawrence during early offseason workouts. But that criticism ignores the moments when the two were connecting.
The truth? Hunter is transitioning to a full-time wide receiver role for the first time, and that takes time. Coen emphasized that Hunter will begin his career focusing on offense while gradually learning the defensive system for future reps at cornerback.
In both roles, Hunter will need to develop beyond his raw athleticism—something that carried him through college.
And as with any new QB-WR duo, timing and chemistry take reps. This phase of the offseason is about building rhythm, not making highlight reels.
Bottom line: it’s early, and the Jaguars are playing the long game with a freak athlete who’s just getting started.
