Jaguars Place Travis Hunter on Injured Reserve After Knee Injury

The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter on injured reserve following a knee injury sustained during practice on Thursday. Head coach Liam Coen confirmed to reporters that the injury occurred without contact, and the team is currently evaluating whether Hunter will return this season.

Coen expressed uncertainty about Hunter’s timeline, stating, “That I don’t know,” but added, “It’s a minor setback for a major comeback.” Hunter’s injury will sideline him for at least the next four games, ruling him out through Week 12 at a minimum.

“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.”

Prior to the injury, Hunter had just delivered his best performance as a professional, catching eight passes for 104 yards and scoring his first NFL touchdown during a 35-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in London. The Jaguars (4-3) had intended to utilize Hunter as their primary wide receiver in their upcoming game against the Las Vegas Raiders (2-5), especially as teammate Brian Thomas Jr. leads the league with nine dropped passes.

This setback is compounded by existing injury concerns within the Jaguars’ receiving corps. Thomas (shoulder) and Tim Patrick (groin) were limited participants in practice for the second consecutive day, while Dyami Brown (shoulder) was a full participant after being limited the previous day.

“I have a lot of confidence in these guys,” Coen remarked. “It’s a great opportunity for all of us to work through a little adversity and for 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.”

Hunter’s contributions this season have been significant. He has played a total of 486 snaps, with 324 of those on offense and 162 on defense. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner has made 28 catches for 298 yards and one touchdown, while also contributing 15 tackles and 3 passes defended on defense.

The Jaguars will need to adapt quickly as they face the Raiders without one of their key players. The team remains focused on overcoming this challenge and supporting Hunter as he begins his recovery.