Coach Liam Coen said Monday at the NFL's Annual Meeting that Hunter (knee) is "very well ahead" of schedule in his recovery from surgery to address a torn LCL in his right knee, Ryan O'Halloran of The Florida Times-Union reports. Coen added that he "cannot say for certain" whether or not Hunter will take part in the offseason program in May and June.

EDGE Analysis

Hunter sustained the injury during an Oct. 30 practice and spent the rest of his rookie campaign on injured reserve, undergoing the aforementioned procedure on Nov. 11. GM James Gladstone noted after the campaign that Hunter will remain a two-way player in 2026 but likely will focus more on cornerback instead of wide receiver. As a first-year pro, Hunter logged 67 percent of the team's snaps on offense versus just 36 percent on defense through Week 8, hauling in 28 of 45 targets for 298 yards and one touchdown to go with 15 tackles and three pass defenses in seven contests. The Jaguars boast more high-end WR talent (Brian Thomas, Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington) than at CB, so having Hunter focus more on defense in his second season likely will pay dividends on the team's operation as a whole. Having said that, when Hunter will be back on the practice field remains to be seen.

Jaguars GM James Gladstone confirmed Wednesday that Hunter (knee) will remain a two-way player in 2026 but implied that the wide receiver/cornerback is likely to see more playing time on defense during the upcoming season, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gladstone noted that Hunter's rehab program is progressing "as expected," after the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft required season-ending surgery Nov. 11 to address a torn LCL in his right knee. Hunter looks on track to be ready for the start of the Jaguars' offseason program, which will be a pivotal one as he prepares to see increased time on the defensive side of the ball in 2026. In his seven appearances as a rookie, Hunter was on the field for 67 percent of the team's offensive snaps compared to only 36 percent of the defensive snaps, but Gladstone cited the Jaguars' positional needs (based on looming expiring contracts) as a primary factor in wanting the 22-year-old to get more exposure to cornerback. Shortly before Hunter got hurt, the Jaguars acquired Jakobi Meyers from the Raiders at the trade deadline and then signed him to an extension, and Parker Washington also emerged as a trusted slot man late in the season to complement Meyers and 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas on the outside. A healthy Hunter is still likely to factor into the equation at receiver in some capacity next season, but because the wideout room already looks like an area of relative strength for Jacksonville, he could be headed for a steep reduction in reps on offense in what would obviously represent a negative development for his fantasy prospects.

The Jaguars plan to continue utilizing Hunter (knee) as their top wide receiver and as a matchup cornerback in 2026, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Before hurting his right knee in an Oct. 30 practice and undergoing season-ending surgery Tuesday to address an isolated ICL injury, Hunter compiled 28 receptions for 298 yards and a touchdown on 45 targets to go with 15 tackles and three passes defensed over the Jaguars' first seven games of his rookie campaign. According to Rapoport, the Jaguars had been preparing for Hunter to handle a heightened role on both sides of the ball in the second half after he delivered his best all-around outing of the season in a loss to the Rams in Week 7, when he excelled in coverage against Davante Adams while finishing with eight catches for 101 yards and a score on offense. Altogether, Hunter played 323 snaps on offense and 158 on defense, and while the ratio may not change in 2026, his overall weekly volume of playing time on both sides of the ball is expected to increase. Because Hunter's knee injury included no damage to other ligaments, he's expected to face a relatively seamless six-month recovery period that should have him back to 100 percent well in advance of training camp.

Hunter underwent season-ending surgery Tuesday to repair an isolated LCL injury to his right knee, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hunter was placed on injured reserve Oct. 31, one day after he suffered a non-contact knee injury while playing cornerback during practice. Though the Jaguars relayed that initial tests on Hunter's knee revealed that his ACL was intact, the 22-year-old evidently sustained other ligament damage that required a procedure. According to Rapoport, Hunter is expected to be ready to resume football activities in six months, so the two-way player should be back to full health well in advance of training camp in late July, if not the start of the Jaguars' offseason program in the spring. The No. 2 overall pick will finish his rookie season with a 28-298-1 receiving line on 45 targets to go with 15 tackles and three passes defensed over seven games.

The Jaguars placed Hunter (knee) on injured reserve Friday.

EDGE Analysis

After Hunter was listed as a limited participant Thursday with a knee injury, coach Liam Coen told Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union on Friday morning that it was non-contact in nature and would result in an IR stint, per Harvey. Adam Schefter of ESPN then reported Friday afternoon that initial tests on Hunter's knee revealed that the ACL was intact, but he'll be evaluated further to determine the extent of the damage, which won't be known until next week. For the time being, Hunter will miss at least the next four games following this transaction, and the Jaguars will be rolling with Brian Thomas, Parker Washington, Dyami Brown and Tim Patrick (groin) at wide receiver moving forward.

Initial testing on Hunter's knee revealed that the wideout's ACL is intact, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

Per John Oehser of the Jaguars' official site, coach Liam Coen announced Friday that Hunter is slated to go on IR, which will cause him to miss at least four games. Beyond that, the rookie first-rounder will need to go through additional testing to determine both the extent of his non-contact knee injury, as well as how long he'll be sidelined, with no answers on that front expected before next week. In Hunter's looming absence, the Jaguars' top three wide receivers likely will be Brian Thomas (shoulder), Dyami Brown and Parker Washington.

Coach Liam Coen said Friday that the Jaguars are still trying to determine the extent of the knee injury that is slated to send Hunter to IR, Michael DiRocco of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

With his looming placement on IR in mind, the earliest that Hunter -- who suffered a non-contact right knee injury during Thursday's practice -- could return to action would be Week 13, but it's possible that the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft misses time beyond that. With regard to that subject, Coen noted Friday, "We're currently assessing the injury just to determine the best course of action moving forward for Travis and for the team." In Hunter's absence, Brian Thomas, who is managing a shoulder issue, is in line to lead the Jaguars' WR corps, while Parker Washington and Dyami Brown are prime candidates to see added snaps/targets moving forward, with Tim Patrick (groin) also in the mix.

Coach Liam Coen announced Friday that Hunter (knee) will be placed on injured reserve, Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union reports.

EDGE Analysis

Hunter suffered a non-contact knee injury during Thursday's practice, according to Harvey, and he now will be forced to miss at least the next four games. The full extent of Hunter's knee injury isn't yet known publicly, but it's obviously a huge loss for Jacksonville after the team had plans to get the rookie more involved on offense following the Week 8 bye. With Hunter sidelined, Brian Thomas (shoulder), Dyami Brown, Parker Washington and Tim Patrick (groin) will handle wideout duties for the Jaguars. Hunter will first be eligible to return in Week 13 against the Titans.

Hunter was limited in practice Thursday by a knee issue.

EDGE Analysis

Hunter wasn't listed on Wednesday's injury report, so it's unclear if his listed limitations a day later are indicative of an issue stemming from the team's first practice or the result of something that cropped up Thursday. In any case, Hunter's status, along with that of fellow WR Brian Thomas (shoulder, limited) must now be monitored ahead of Sunday's game against the Raiders.

Hunter caught eight of 14 targets for 101 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 35-7 loss to the Rams.

EDGE Analysis

The rookie two-way player hauled in his first career TD on a 34-yard toss from Trevor Lawrence. Hunter set new personal bests in catches, yards and targets in the performance, and his volume increase came as Brian Thomas (shoulder) checked in and out of the lineup in the second half. The Jaguars will be on bye in Week 8, but if Thomas' injury proves to be serious, Hunter could be headed for significantly elevated volume in the second half.