To kick off his preseason debut, Travis Hunter didn’t waste a second showing why Duval has been buzzing about the rookie. The #2 pick lined up on both offense and defense, but it was his opening stretch at wideout that stole the show. Playing 10 of the first drive’s 11 snaps, Hunter snagged two catches for nine yards before rotating out against the Steelers. And it impressed Jaguars offensive coordinator Liam Coen.
“I think he made a couple of good catches on some option routes and missed the one tackle defensively that I noticed,” Coen said. He admitted he still needed a deeper look at the defensive film, but Hunter’s choices with the ball impressed him. “Made a good catch, almost broke out of that one where kind of Trevor put it behind him on that third down we talked about,” Coen added. Hunter later got a few snaps back on defense but didn’t add to the stat sheet in that role.
By halftime, Coen had already put the night into perspective. “Yeah, he got some work,” he said. “I’d like to see him just fill in a little more on defense and the run game. He did a good job on the third-down [catch] to put us in fourth down to give us the ability to go for it. He made another catch, so it was a good start.” That short sample, though, was enough to remind everyone why Jacksonville burned a first-round pick on a two-way weapon like Hunter.
And now, came teammate Brian Thomas Jr., who has seen the rookie up close in camp. While he hasn’t faced him often, BTJ made sure his message to the other receivers was clear—test him every chance you get. Push him, make him earn every rep. That way, Hunter can sharpen both his offensive and defensive craft. From what he’s seen, Hunter embraces the challenge, making plays on either side and proving he won’t back down from heavy expectations.
“He’s got to make sure he’s getting better each and every day. But, I mean, he takes on the challenge each and every time, so he’s going out there and making plays, whether it’s on offense, defense,” he said. “He’s just, I feel like it’ll be tough for him, but I feel like he’ll be able to do it.”
However, BTJ also had a selfish twist to his wish list. “But me, selfishly, I would want him more on the offensive side, help me out a little-bit, track some of those coverages,” he said. “But, I mean, me personally, I feel like he’ll definitely be able to do it.”
“Me selfishly, I want him on the offensive side”
– @BrianThomas_11 on teammate Travis Hunter.
Second year @jaguars’ wide out Brian Thomas Jr. knows what @TravisHunterJr is attempting to do in the NFL is hard, but he thinks he’s made for it. He tells the wide receiver room to… pic.twitter.com/6sxCULX2Ly
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) August 15, 2025
After all, Travis Hunter already proved his stamina and versatility at Colorado, logging over 750 snaps on both sides last season and winning the Heisman Trophy with 92 catches, 1,152 yards, and 14 touchdowns on offense, plus 29 tackles and four interceptions on defense. That’s why Coen’s confidence matches BTJ’s belief. As he put it on The Rich Eisen Show, “He can do it all – and earn it.” However, before that, there is an injury scar to deal with.
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