Why Travis Hunter Will Define Jaguars' Offseason

The offseason is officially underway for the Jacksonville Jaguars after an incredible season that featured a nine-win turnaround from the season prior, where the team had lost 13 games only to lose four and secure the AFC South in 2025.

Head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone spoke with reporters for a final press conference before either the NFL Scouting Combine or the NFL Draft, sharing insight on key players such as Travis Etienne, Devin Lloyd, and Travon Walker. However, some important updates and intriguing notes were shared by Gladstone and Coen on star two-way playmaker Travis Hunter, who had missed a large portion of the season due to a knee injury after the bye week.

Gladstone's update on Hunter

Gladstone Jags — Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone walks out after a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In late October, the Jaguars' sensational rookie suffered a non-contact injury to his knee, tearing his LCL and missing the remainder of the regular season. While the team didn't skip a beat, it was a missed opportunity to see what type of impact he would've provided if he had begun to have a full-time role at both cornerback and wide receiver.

On Wednesday, Gladstone shared that Hunter's rehab is going 'as expected' and is attacking it while bringing the energy to the organization behind the scenes. He said he still expects Hunter to play both sides of the ball next season.

Hunter Jags — The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, center, throws up the Heisman pose to Tony Boselli, Executive Vice President of Football Operations, left, as Head Coach Liam Coen, right, laughs after a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. The team traded up from fifth to second after making a deal with the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night. The rookie was introduced with general | Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"Yeah, I think very fair to say his rehab process is going as expected," Gladstone said. "He's hitting it hard, and obviously, the joy that he brings to just the everyday operation is still something that permeates throughout the space that he enters, and beyond that, and the role that he'll play, we still expect him to play on both sides of the ball."

However, he shared an interesting detail. As the team is expected to take a potential hit at cornerback this offseason, it doesn't rid them of Hunter's ability at the position, where he showed outstanding playmaking skills during the regular season. Gladstone hinted at the possibility of a larger emphasis on cornerback for his young phenom pass-catcher-slash-defender, sharing Coen's perspective as well.

"Obviously, you can take a peek at expiring contracts on our roster and which side of the ball has more," Gladstone explained. "Obviously, at this point, walking into the offseason, corner is a position that we have a few guys who are on expiring contracts. By default, you can expect there to be a higher emphasis on his placement.

"I think from Liam's perspective, he can share it, but the steps he was taking by the midpoint of the season really made us feel good about what the back half of the year was going to be like on both sides of the ball and what that impact was going to look like being a feature point on offense and an impact player on defense," Gladstone continued. "It was disappointing timing but nonetheless feel good about where we are heading into this offseason and what next year should hold."

Coen Hunte — Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen looks to the video scoreboard with wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football matchup, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Seahawks defeated the Jaguars 20-12. | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Coen said he was excited to get back to work with Hunter, continuing his evolution as a player while also looking into possible adjustments to his schedule due to the challenges of being a two-way player in the NFL.

"I'm really excited about getting back to work with Travis and continue that evolution and see what that looks like and I'm going to take a few of these weeks here to look at that schedule and see what any of those changes or adaptations we may need to make," Coen said.

Coen Gladston — Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone, right, speaks as head coach Liam Coen looks on during a press conference at the Miller Electric Center, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. | Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It will be another long offseason for the Jaguars, especially when it comes to the discourse surrounding their soon-to-be second-year starter. It is a discussion that will be brought up during free agency, the NFL Draft, and much of the summer activities, all the way into next season.

For now, a major offseason for the 13-win Jaguars is underway for Gladstone and Coen.

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