Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter may see a role shift as the team gets a boost from Jarrian Jones’ return.

Jones’ availability will allow the Jaguars to ease Hunter’s defensive workload and use him more on offense. After the cornerback exited the Week 2 game against the Bengals with a back injury, the rookie stepped up as a full-time defender. As analyst Jared Smola noted, “Hunter basically became a full-timer on defense after Jones exited last week.”

In Week 1, he played only on offense, but in Week 2 against the Bengals, he stepped up big, playing both offense and defense after Jarrian Jones got hurt.

The 22-year-old played 85 total snaps in the game against the Bengals, 42 on offense and 43 on defense, covering receivers like Andrei Iosivas and drawing two penalties. It was a demanding workload for any player, especially a rookie playing both ways.

In his first two NFL games. He has caught 9 passes for 55 yards, and four of those helped move the chains.

If cornerback Jarrian Jones is healthy this week, Hunter may shift back into a larger role on the attack.

So, the Jaguars have found a talented rookie who needs a bit more polishing to excel on the ultra-competitive NFL circuit.

With Jarrian Jones possibly returning, head coach Liam Coen faces a choice: keep Travis Hunter’s defensive snaps steady or unleash him fully on offense.

While Hunter’s role remains fluid, another young Jaguar is looking to bounce back and bring a spark to the offense.

Travis Hunter’s teammate brings an edge to the Jaguars

Coach Liam Coen was upset after Brian Thomas Jr. had a rough game against Cincinnati, catching just 4 of 12 passes for 49 yards. The Jaguars’ passing game struggled on third downs, and both Coen and Trevor Lawrence looked frustrated on the sideline.

“Yeah, we got to, I got to go watch it, you know, and just go go figure out what that, you know, was all about,” Coen said postgame. He sounded sharper than usual.

However, before the Week 3 game, things looked better. Brian Thomas Jr. was a full participant in practice, and when asked how he felt about his preparation, the wide receiver kept it short and confident: “Good!”

Even the HC was happy with the drills. “He definitely had a better week in terms of the way we were trying to connect. Excited about his opps this weekend.” The head coach said about his wide receiver.

It’s a crucial moment for the Jaguars as their offense looks to hit its stride. Parker Washington stood out last week with 76 yards on five catches, but he needs help.

Thomas Jr.’s size and speed could make Lawrence’s job easier, especially in the red zone. After a dominant 26-10 win in Week 1 and a narrow 27-31 loss in Week 2, the team is eager to bounce back. If Travis Hunter and Thomas get going, the Jaguars could unleash their full offensive potential.