Jaguars' Coen: Hunter cares only about winning, not 'other stuff'

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  Michael DiRoccoOct 2, 2026, 12:23 PM ET

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  Michael DiRocco is an NFL Nation reporter at ESPN and covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously covered the University of Florida for over a decade for ESPN and the Florida Times-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville University and is a multiple APSE award winner.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- How much Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter is playing on defense and offense may be a subject of discussion among fans and analysts, but it definitely isn't inside the building.

And it's not something Hunter talks about, either.

"He cares about winning. That's what he cares about," head coach Liam Coen said. "And all the other stuff, the reps, where we picked him, I don't give two F's about value and neither does he.

"We care about winning and that's it."

Hunter started every game at cornerback this season but has played 62% of the team's defensive snaps because the Jaguars have a rotation with Jarrian Jones and Montaric Brown. He recorded his first career interception in last Sunday's 35-6 victory over New England.

Hunter has played only 16 snaps on offense and has one catch for 8 yards and one carry for 3 yards. That's a significant dropoff from last season when Hunter played 67% of the Jaguars' offensive snaps in seven games last season before he suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Sunday's game at Cincinnati will be a major test for Hunter and the Jaguars' secondary. The Bengals have arguably the NFL's best receiver duo in Ja'Marr Chase (18 catches, 185 yards, three TDs) and Tee Higgins (14 catches, 244 yards, one TD). Joe Burrow is completing 71% of his passes for 743 yards and six touchdowns.

"Just go out there and compete," Hunter said Thursday of his mindset going into the game. "Just be the best person I can be. And we've just got to go out there and do our job."