It’s tough news for the Jacksonville Jaguars and their fan base as rookie Travis Hunter will miss the remainder of the 2025 season. Hunter, who had turned heads playing both wide receiver and cornerback, underwent surgery this past Tuesday to repair a torn LCL in his right knee, officially ending his debut NFL campaign.

Hunter initially suffered the injury on October 30 during a practice just before Week 9’s matchup and was subsequently placed on injured reserve. While the team held out hope for a late-season return, that possibility has now been ruled out. ESPN Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter broke the news on X, detailing the surgical outcome:

“Per the Jaguars: Travis Hunter underwent surgery today to repair his LCL which will sideline him for the remainder of the season. There was no additional damage beyond his LCL. The procedure was done by Dr. Cooper and Dr. Kaplan in Dallas. He’s expected to return to full football activities within six months.”

The good news is that the surgery revealed no additional damage beyond the LCL, suggesting a cleaner recovery path. He is projected to be back to full football activities within six months, putting him on track for the start of the 2026 season.

How well had Travis Hunter been doing in the Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars‘ pursuit of Colorado’s electrifying two-way standout, Travis Hunter, started long before the 2025 NFL Draft confetti fell. The organization, particularly General Manager James Gladstone, had Hunter pegged as a transformative talent. However, the initial outlook was grim; a trade-up felt improbable, a long shot in the high-stakes poker game of the first round.

But Gladstone and the Jaguars pulled off the unthinkable. In one of the boldest draft moves in franchise history, they executed a trade that landed them Hunter on June 22, 2025, instantly injecting power into the roster. Hunter wasted no time proving his worth. In his starting NFL campaign, the rookie saw significant time on both sides of the ball.

On offense, Hunter wasn’t just a participant; he quickly became a key part of the wide receiver group. He snagged 28 passes out of 43 chances for 298 yards and got to spike the ball after his first career touchdown. His biggest performance show came in his final game against the LA Rams, where he blew up for 101 receiving yards, flashing the elite ability to get open and make tough catches the team was starving for. On defense, Hunter stood his ground at cornerback. He totaled 14 tackles and showed off some seriously sticky coverage, letting opponents complete only 9 of 15 passes thrown his way for a scant 96 yards, all while knocking away two huge passes.

Hunter’s seamless transition and unique dual-threat skillset brought an undeniable spark to the Jaguars. Now, his absence has become a glaring problem. Over the last two weeks, the team has visibly struggled, especially the offense. The unit looks flat, desperately lacking the explosiveness and elite separation Hunter was just beginning to establish in the receiving corps.