Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter's season-ending injury could have long-term consequences

Jacksonville Jaguars star Travis Hunter's rookie season is officially over, and so, too, could be his experiment as a two-way NFL star.

On Tuesday, NFL insider Ian Rapoport shared that Hunter, who was placed on the injured reserve after suffering a non-contact knee injury on Oct. 30, forcing him to miss at least four games, recently underwent season-ending surgery, removing the possibility of a 2025 return. It also raises questions about the wide receiver/cornerback's best path going forward in the pros.

Travis Hunter injury ramifications could go beyond 2025

Hunter's injury came at a brutal time for the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, four days after he posted season-highs in targets (14), receptions (eight) and receiving yards (101) while also catching his first career NFL touchdown during a 35-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

He ends his rookie season with 28 receptions, 298 receiving yards and a touchdown while also recording 15 tackles and three passes defensed. Per Pro Football Reference data, he allowed nine receptions on 18 targets for 106 yards when targeted in coverage, with quarterbacks posting a below-average 68.3 passer rating.

The update that he needed season-ending surgery comes at an even worse time for the Jaguars, who are 1-3 in their last four games after a 4-1 start and blew a 19-point fourth-quarter lead in Week 10, losing 36-29 to the division-rival Houston Texans (4-5) after allowing 26 unanswered points in the final 12:16 of regulation. Instead of getting its dynamic playmaker back for the stretch run, Jacksonville will be without the player it moved up to select at No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft the rest of the way.

The Jaguars justified sending 2025's No. 5, No. 36 and No. 126 overall picks and a 2026 first-rounder to the Cleveland Browns to pick Hunter by arguing his difference-making talent on both offense and defense made him worth the price tag. His injury could derail those plans.

Hunter was already trending toward predominantly playing offense, and the season-ending knee injury could prompt Jacksonville to manage his workload by further limiting his defensive snaps. In Hunter's final four games, he played 273 total snaps, 203 of which came on offense (74.4 percent). Overall, he played 72.8 percent of Jacksonville's offensive snaps during that span as opposed to 27.5 percent of the team's defensive snaps.

That draft-day trade will look much worse if Hunter's ability to play both ways is compromised following his injury. But for as much as Jacksonville gave up, it must protect Hunter at all costs. Even if that means him sticking to one side of the ball.