Liam Coen Provides Latest Updates on Jaguars' Travis Hunter's Year 2

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars may not have a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but there is another way to look at it.

In many ways, 2025 served as a redshirt season of sorts for No. 2 pick Travis Hunter. Hunter only played seven games as a result of a non-contact knee injury in November, just when he was about to see his role expand.

Now, all eyes are on Hunter as he makes his return to a Jaguars team that went 9-1 in the regular-season after his injury. The Jaguars will be returning a playoff team next season, and will be adding Hunter to the mix after spending most of 2026 without him.

This week from the owners meetings in Phoenix, Jaguars head coach Liam Coen detailed what year two is so far shaping up to look like for Hunter.

Coen on Hunter

For Hunter, the rehab process since November has been at the top of the priority list. It remains to be seen exactly when he will be cleared for on-field work, whether that be during OTAs or some time closer to training camp. But Coen stressed this week that the Jaguars are not overly concerned with the return date.

“Yeah, I mean, one day at a time. We're truly immersed in the rehab process. I don't have a clue when he's going to come back. I know he's on schedule. I know everybody's excited about his growth and healing that he's had," Coen said.

"But to me, it's like, we played half a season without our first-round draft pick and at two positions. So, it's like, alright, what can that look like when he actually is in a rhythm and routine, understands it, is fully immersed in it with everybody and how we got to be as a team? I'm excited about what that looks like.”

The sky has been the limit for Hunter since the Jaguars made the biggest draft trade in franchise history to acquire him. It was the first time the Jaguars ever traded away a future first-round pick in a draft trade, and the Jaguars were not shy about their aggressive two-way vision for Hunter following the trade.

travis hunter panthers — 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] | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Hunter, the Jaguars said, can change the entire sport. Injuries limited that ability as a rookie, but Hunter is set to play a massive role for the Jaguars in his sophomore campaign.

That role will likely be as the Jaguars' No. 1 cornerback and a contributor at wide receiver, but the Jaguars do not have any laid-out grand plans for his usage today. Due to his versatility, he has a role that can grow and develop throughout the entire course of a season -- a big reason they drafted him to begin with.

“I think it’s kind of an unspoken understanding of knowing that there are some depth things (at cornerback) that he can come in and help us," Coen said.

"But the focus (of the talks) have just been about the day-to-day and, ‘How are you feeling today? How are you doing?’ and getting to see him smiling and moving around again in the facility.”