Shedeur Sanders wasn’t the one big-name rookie to make his anticipated NFL debut this weekend. A day after the Cleveland Browns quarterback spiced up his crew’s competitors beneath middle, Sanders’ former Colorado teammate Travis Hunter took the sector for his personal 2025 opener, because the Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday evening.
There have been a number of storylines surrounding the Jaguars’ exhibition debut, from new head coach Liam Coen calling the pictures alongside quarterback Trevor Lawrence to Mason Rudolph beginning beneath middle for Pittsburgh instead of the resting Aaron Rodgers. Arguably no participant had extra eyes on him than Hunter, nonetheless, after Jacksonville made the Colorado star some of the prized acquisitions of the 2025 NFL Draft.
How, precisely, was Hunter, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, deployed in his first (unofficial) NFL game-day motion? Particularly after Coen confirmed the crew intends to make use of the 22-year-old as each a large receiver and cornerback? This is a breakdown of Hunter’s Saturday efficiency in opposition to the Steelers, which adopted loads of pre-game interplay with the Jacksonville crowd and Jaguars mascot:
Opened recreation with beginning offense
No shock right here, contemplating the Jaguars listed Hunter as a beginning vast receiver on their unofficial depth chart throughout coaching camp. Nonetheless, it was notable the rookie lined up as a part of Coen’s A-team, serving as a high cross outlet for Lawrence reverse Brian Thomas Jr. The latter ended up hauling in Lawrence’s first cross in opposition to Pittsburgh, unofficially reaffirming the second-year star because the membership’s No. 1 weapon.
Featured on Jaguars’ first scoring drive
Thomas caught the primary ball, however Hunter led the Jaguars on their opening collection in each catches (two) and targets (three). His first reception went for simply three yards, and his second was technically erased by a pair of Jaguars penalties. His precise second catch, nonetheless, displayed a few of his trademark slipperiness, as he put Jacksonville in place for a 41-yard discipline aim to begin the sport’s scoring.
Returned as second-team cornerback
Staying true to his unofficial depth chart place, Hunter took a collection off after his offensive debut, then returned to the sector because the membership’s left cornerback on the Jaguars’ second defensive drive. He was credited with 5 snaps and one missed sort out on the collection, which ended with a fast Steelers punt. The missed sort out was pretty egregious; Hunter flew as much as the road for a one-on-one try in opposition to rookie working again Kaleb Johnson, just for Johnson to simply shake the nook with a stiff arm.
Whole snap depend vs. Steelers
- Offense: 11 snaps
- Protection: 5 snaps
NFL futures props: Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter amongst prop professional’s finest bets for 2025 season
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What does it imply for Hunter’s future?
For one, the Jaguars had been telling the reality about their willingness to let Hunter check his abilities at his two school positions. Which will properly proceed into the common season. The order and outcomes of his appearances are value noting, although: First, there is a cause the Jaguars let Hunter line up out vast with the starters to open his preseason debut. That seems to be his most pure place on the NFL stage. Or a minimum of the place the place he can most seamlessly — and instantly — translate his explosiveness.
That is to not say Hunter cannot or will not grow to be a star cowl man, however all indications are he’ll extra rapidly make a splash on offense. One missed sort out does not change the very fact he is a gifted athlete, however within the NFL, there is a case to be made that sheer athleticism interprets higher in an offensive position, the place Hunter can focus extra on outrunning and outmaneuvering reasonably than outmuscling opposing gamers.
