Could Travis Hunter win both defensive and offensive ROY? (1:09)
Field Yates responds to Liam Coen’s comment about Travis Hunter doing the unprecedented in the NFL. (1:09)
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Michael DiRoccoAug 7, 2025, 12:06 PM ET
- Michael DiRocco is an NFL Nation reporter at ESPN and covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously covered the University of Florida for over a decade for ESPN and the Florida Times-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville University and is a multiple APSE award winner.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Travis Hunter will make his two-way debut on Saturday night when the Jacksonville Jaguars play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers in both teams’ preseason opener.
Hunter will play receiver and cornerback against the Steelers and head coach Liam Coen said Thursday that the Jaguars’ starters will play as well. How long they play, however, will depend on how things go during the game at EverBank Stadium. Coen said conversations with center Robert Hainsey — who was with Coen in Tampa Bay in 2024 — and quarterback Trevor Lawrence was a factor in his decision. The fact that the team only has one joint practice scheduled (in Miami on Aug. 21) was a factor, as well.
“[Hainsey] just came up the other day in the weight room was just like, ‘What are we doing?’ And I’m like, I’m still working on it. [Hainsey said] , ‘We want to play.’ And Trevor as well and some of the guys.
“… Trevor called me the other night and we’ve talked about it as well on the ride home a little bit. So yeah, I appreciate that and definitely more of what you’re looking for in terms of the communication and the ability to be honest and have a real conversation and ultimately those guys have a pulse so much more for what the locker room is than I do on a daily basis. So it was good to hear from those guys.”
Hunter has practiced on both offense and defense three times this week after making his two-way debut in last Friday night’s scrimmage at EverBank Stadium.
