Rookie wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter of the Jacksonville Jaguars is currently facing an upper-body injury. He was unable to attend the team’s joint practice with the Miami Dolphins this past week, according to ESPN. Hunter missed the Jaguars’ second preseason game against the New Orleans Saints and will also be sidelined for the preseason finale against the Dolphins.

Coach Liam Coen mentioned he considered allowing Hunter to practice but decided against it to prevent any aggravation to the injury. “It was more just do we want him now or potentially not [playing against] Carolina [in Week 1],” Coen stated, emphasizing a cautious approach.

Hunter participated in the Jaguars’ first preseason game, which ended in a 31-25 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played for a total of 11 offensive snaps, recording two catches for nine yards.

While the specific role Hunter will fill during the regular season remains unclear, the Jaguars have expressed their intention to utilize him actively on both offense and defense, despite the challenges tied to his injury, which raises questions about the feasibility of a legitimate two-way player in today’s NFL.

Last year, Hunter played 713 offensive snaps and 748 defensive snaps for the Buffaloes, earning accolades such as the Biletnikoff Award and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, making him a significant dual-threat player.