The Jacksonville Jaguars need to get two-way standout Travis Hunter more involved on offense.
asserted
Hunter → need → offense
Brian Thomas Jr. dropped two passes in a 20-13 loss at Denver on Sunday, again raising concerns about his dependability.
asserted
Jr. → drop → dependability
A first-round draft pick who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2024, Thomas ranked second in the NFL with 10 drops last season and seemed to shy away from contact almost weekly.
asserted
Thomas → make → contact
His struggles had Jaguars coach Liam Coen ready to make Hunter the team’s go-to receiver last October.
asserted
Hunter → have → ?
Days later, Hunter tore a ligament in his right knee in practice and missed the rest of the season.
asserted
Hunter → tear → season
With Hunter sidelined, the Jaguars (1-1) traded for veteran Jakobi Meyers, witnessed the emergence of Parker Washington and found ways to get more out of Thomas.
asserted
Jaguars → sideline → Thomas
Now, though, Hunter deserves another shot beginning with Sunday’s home game against New England (1-1).
asserted
Hunter → deserve → England
After all, Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said Hunter has “the capacity to alter the trajectory of the sport.”
asserted
Hunter → say → sport
Jacksonville has no idea whether that’s even a possibility until the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner truly plays both ways.
asserted
winner → have → ways
He played just four offensive snaps in the season opener, a victory against Cleveland.
asserted
He → play → Cleveland
He was slightly more involved against the Broncos, getting on the field for seven offensive snaps.
asserted
He → get → snaps
But he’s been mostly a decoy so far; he’s yet to be targeted beyond the line of scrimmage.
asserted
he → ’ → scrimmage
“We got to go look at it and see if we can find some more ways to get him some opportunities,” Coen said.
asserted
Coen → got → opportunities
Hunter last season rarely looked like a player worth what Jacksonville gave up to draft him — Gladstone traded four picks to Cleveland to move up three spots to No. 2 — and often appeared confused about where to line up on offense.
asserted
Gladstone → look → offense
But coaches and teammates believe the few plays he made in 2025 were enough to prove he’s got a chance to be special.
asserted
he → believe → chance
He clearly needs a chance.
asserted
He → need → chance
What’s working
The Jaguars appear to have one of the better run defenses in the league.
asserted
Jaguars → work → league
A year after leading the league in that category, they allowed 104 yards on the ground at Denver.
asserted
they → lead → Denver
They gave up 87 yards rushing against Cleveland in the opener.
asserted
They → give → opener
It’s the kind of defensive approach that can dictate games.
asserted
that → ’ → games
It worked well against the Browns, but not good enough against the Broncos down the stretch.
asserted
It → work → stretch
Rookie Jonah Coleman ran for 39 yards and a touchdown, helping Denver run out the clock in a close game, after J.K. Dobbins left with an injury.
asserted
Dobbins → run → injury
What needs help
Jacksonville failed to sack Bo Nix and barely pressured him.
asserted
Jacksonville → need → him
Linebacker Dennis Gardeck led the team with two QB hits, and Travon Walker got one.
asserted
Walker → lead → one
But Josh Hines-Allen was mostly a no-show on the opposite side, the kind of absentee performance the Jaguars can’t afford.
asserted
Jaguars → afford → performance
He caught seven passes for 98 yards, including a 32-yarder that set up a touchdown.
asserted
that → catch → touchdown
He had five receptions for 83 yards and a score last week against the Browns.
asserted
He → have → Browns
It’s more proof that the Jaguars can’t afford to lose Washington in free agency next year.
asserted
Jaguars → ’ → agency
He completed 17 of 29 passes for 189 yards, with an interception.
asserted
He → complete → interception
He was sacked twice and ran twice for 6 yards.
asserted
He → sack → yards
He also had an early fumble that was overturned by penalty.
asserted
that → have → penalty
He looked nothing like the guy who threw four TD passes against the Browns and carried the Jags into the playoffs down the stretch last year.
asserted
who → look → stretch
Defensive tackle DeVon Hamilton tweaked his lower back late in the game but was able to return.
asserted
Hamilton → tweak → game
Right tackle Cole Van Lanen played his first complete game since tearing a knee ligament in January and having surgery.
asserted
Lanen → play → surgery
Van Lanen played fairly well despite giving up a sack.
asserted
Lanen → play → sack
It’s the franchise’s lowest winning percentage against any AFC team.
asserted
It → ’ → team
The Jaguars have won the last two meetings in Jacksonville.
asserted
Jaguars → win → Jacksonville
Next steps
The Jaguars showed they have a small margin for error against Denver, so they need to limit turnovers, sacks, penalties and blown coverages to improve their chances.
asserted
they → show → chances
The Aporia
