What began as a concerning non-contact injury during practice has now officially ended Travis Hunter’s rookie season. The Jaguars’ two-way star underwent surgery to repair a torn LCL in his knee, per Ian Rapoport, and will miss the remainder of the year. Fortunately, tests confirmed there was no additional structural damage, and Hunter is expected to make a full recovery in roughly six months, putting him on track to return well ahead of 2026 training camp.
Hunter was placed on injured reserve after the injury, which occurred in late October. Initially listed as “day-to-day,” further evaluation revealed the extent of the damage, forcing Jacksonville to shut him down for the season.
It’s a major loss for the Jaguars, especially on offense where Hunter had just begun to find his rhythm. The former two-way phenom out of Colorado was coming off the best performance of his young NFL career, catching 8 passes for 101 yards and his first career touchdown against the Rams.
Through ten weeks, Hunter recorded 28 receptions for 298 yards and a touchdown, averaging 10.6 yards per catch. While he also contributed on defense, Jacksonville had primarily leaned on him as a dynamic playmaker on offense in recent weeks.
Even though his rookie campaign ends sooner than expected, Hunter’s flashes of brilliance made it clear why the Jaguars believed in his two-way potential. With surgery behind him and a full recovery expected, all eyes will be on how the team integrates him back into the lineup next season.