Jags' Hunter to play both ways, but plan is fluid

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said again that Travis Hunter is going to play on both sides of the ball in 2026. But there's a chance that might not happen every week. Coen said he doesn't feel like he must get Hunter offensive snaps each week and that the way each game unfolds will play a part in determining when -- or even if -- he plays at all on that side of the ball. There's no set plan. "I don't," Coen said Friday as the Jaguars continued preparations for Sunday's season opener against Cleveland at EverBank Stadium. "I have a lot of confidence in Travis to go out and compete for us. He hasn't played a lot of football since he got hurt and it's really at the end of the day, this is about winning football games." Hunter spent the majority training camp on defense and he will start at cornerback Sunday. Whatever offensive plan the Jaguars have for Hunter each week will be fluid, and it won't be a guarantee that Hunter touches the ball when he is on the field. "You're going to continue to try to get him in positions that he can do things that he's good at," Coen said. "That's what we're trying to do. It doesn't always [mean Hunter is going to get the ball when he's in the game]. He's a damn good blocker. He can run routes in terms of maybe the ball's not schemed up to go to him. "I'm not obviously having a count in my head with how many plays and what we're exactly going to do with him, but he definitely will play both." Sunday will be Hunter's first game since he suffered a season-ending torn lateral collateral ligament in his right knee during an Oct. 30 practice. He had surgery on Nov. 11, rehabbed during the rest of the season, and participated in the team's offseason program on a limited basis. He was cleared fully for training camp. Hunter had his best offensive performance as a rookie in his final game last season, catching eight passes for 104 yards and his first NFL touchdown during a 35-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner and second overall pick in 2025 ended his season with 28 catches for 298 yards and a touchdown and 15 tackles and three pass breakups. He played 67% of the team's offensive snaps and 36% of the defensive snaps until his injury.