Deion Sanders is questioning how Jacksonville is using Travis Hunter in his second season. Hunter entered 2026 seeking to remain a two-way contributor after a knee injury cut his rookie year short. Through 2 games, his offensive role had been reduced while most of his work came at cornerback.
Sanders said he does not know what happens behind the scenes in Jacksonville, but he knows Hunter’s abilities well. His comments added another layer to the early-season discussion around the No. 2 pick. Hunter produced his first NFL interception in Week 3, leaving his season with limited offensive involvement and a clear defensive breakthrough.
Sanders is puzzled by Hunter’s early role
Sanders discussed Hunter’s usage on his CBS Colorado show after the Jaguars’ first 2 games. “I don’t ask questions because I’m not there,” Sanders said, adding, “I have no idea what’s going on” when discussing the way Jacksonville has deployed his former player.
The comments followed a change from Hunter’s college workload. At Colorado, Sanders used Hunter at receiver and cornerback. Hunter won the 2024 Heisman Trophy after starring on both sides of the ball, and Colorado’s final 2024 season records credit him with 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns, plus 4 interceptions.
Sanders had already expressed frustration in May that Jacksonville had not contacted him for advice about Hunter’s transition. He later pointed to Hunter’s Heisman season as evidence of his two-way ability.
Hunter’s offensive workload has changed
The Jaguars entered 2026 planning to use Hunter on both sides while increasing his defensive workload. General manager James Gladstone said Hunter was “set to play both sides” and expected an uptick in cornerback usage compared with his rookie season, when he played more snaps at receiver.
That shift was obvious through the first 2 games. NBC Sports reported that Hunter played 4 offensive snaps and 29 defensive snaps against Cleveland, then 6 offensive snaps and 37 defensive snaps against Denver. He had 1 reception for 8 yards across those 2 games.
The limited offensive role came after Hunter’s rookie season ended with a knee injury. He played 7 games in 2025, recording 28 catches for 298 yards and 1 touchdown, while also making 15 tackles and breaking up 3 passes on defense.
Week 3 changed the conversation around Hunter
Hunter’s role remained limited offensively against New England on Sept. 27, but his defensive impact became much more visible. In Jacksonville’s 35-6 win, he recorded 4 tackles, defended 1 pass, and intercepted Drake Maye in the end zone near the end of the first half.
The interception was Hunter’s first in the NFL and stopped a Patriots scoring opportunity on 3rd-and-goal from the 2-yard line. Jacksonville’s official game account identified the play as one of the key moments in the victory, with Hunter adjusting in the air to make the catch.
The play also offered a clearer look at the versatility Jacksonville expected when it selected Hunter. While his offensive opportunities remained limited, his ability to affect the game as a defender gave him another way to contribute early in his second NFL season.
Fun fact: Travis Hunter became the fifth NFL player since 1999 to record at least 100 receiving yards, a receiving touchdown, and a pass defended in the same game when he posted 101 receiving yards and a touchdown against the Rams in 2025.
The two-way experiment remains complicated
Hunter’s current numbers show why the Jaguars’ approach has drawn attention. Through 3 games in 2026, he has 9 tackles, 2 passes defended and 1 interception on defense, but only 1 reception for 8 yards on offense.
Jacksonville traded up to draft Hunter second overall because of his unusual versatility. The Jaguars have kept him involved on both sides, but the snap distribution has changed significantly from college and his rookie season.
His knee injury interrupted his rookie year after 7 games, and Jacksonville entered 2026 intending to give him more work at cornerback. The early results show a defensive role producing tangible plays while his offensive involvement remains small.
Sanders’ comments add to a larger discussion
Sanders’ remarks are notable because he coached Hunter for 3 seasons across Jackson State and Colorado and was part of the environment in which Hunter developed into a full-time two-way player. His public comments have consistently emphasized Hunter’s ability to contribute on both sides rather than settle into only 1 position.
Jacksonville, meanwhile, has maintained that Hunter is capable of playing both ways. The offseason plan called for increased defensive usage without removing him from the offense, unlike his rookie workload, which leaned more heavily toward receiver.
The Week 3 interception adds another dimension to the discussion. Hunter did not suddenly become a full-time offensive weapon, but he produced a high-impact defensive play in a dominant Jacksonville victory. Sanders’ concern about the workload therefore exists alongside evidence that Hunter is beginning to make meaningful contributions in the role the Jaguars have prioritized.
Hunter’s NFL story is still taking shape
Hunter’s first 3 games of 2026 have produced a mixed statistical picture, but the context matters. He returned from a serious knee injury, entered a new season with a different workload balance and has already made a notable defensive play that was missing from his rookie stat line.
Jacksonville is 2-1 after wins over Cleveland and New England. Hunter has appeared in all 3 games and is a regular part of the defense. He has also seen time on offense, although his role there has been limited through the first 3 games.
Sanders’ comments remain focused on what Hunter is capable of doing rather than on a definitive judgment about Jacksonville’s plan. His frustration centers on a player known for doing everything at Colorado while Jacksonville shapes a more specialized NFL role.
TL;DR
- Deion Sanders said he has “no idea what’s going on” with Travis Hunter’s usage after 2 games.
- Hunter played 10 offensive snaps across the first 2 games while he worked primarily at cornerback.
- He recorded his first NFL interception against New England in Week 3.
- Hunter has 9 tackles, 2 passes defended and 1 interception through 3 2026 games.
- Jacksonville has continued using Hunter on both sides despite the sharp shift toward defense.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
