Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter (12) runs after a catch against the Chiefs. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Travis Hunter had a big catch as a receiver on Monday night catch, and gave the Jacksonville Jaguars an injury scare as a cornerback.
One of the concerns with Hunter playing both ways was the additional exposure to injury. He held up fine in the first four games, but early in the fourth quarter he had to leave the game.
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Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy, who set the record for the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL Scouting Combine history, ran a deep route. Hunter had to go full speed to keep up with him in coverage. Mahomes overthrew Worthy but Hunter was limping after the play and signaled to the sideline he had to come out.
The Jaguars had to be relieved when Hunter was back on the field for the Jaguars’ next offensive play, although it was an interception to the Chiefs.
Still, it highlighted that there is some risk in playing Hunter both ways. It will be hard for him to hold up over a full season playing both ways, as the Jaguars have done with him.
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But Hunter’s incredible talent isn’t in doubt, and he showed it off to a national television audience.
Before Hunter limped off, he had the first huge highlight of his NFL career. Trevor Lawrence was scrambling and found Hunter downfield. He threw deep but it was underthrown. Hunter had to come back for it and made a great catch in traffic for a 44-yard gain.
That’s why the Jaguars traded up to draft him second overall. The big catch set up a touchdown.
Hunter is getting a lot of work for the Jaguars, and he hasn’t had a huge start to his NFL career. But on one highlight catch he showed the talent that made him a Heisman Trophy winner at Colorado. The Jaguars need more of that, with no more injury scares.
