Travis Hunter’s rookie season has come to an unfortunate end following his knee surgery on Tuesday, as confirmed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The No. 2 overall pick in the recent draft sustained a non-contact injury during a practice session in late October, leading to his placement on injured reserve.
Initially, there was hope that Hunter would return to action sooner, but the need for surgery to repair his LCL has revised those timelines. Fortunately, the Jaguars’ statement clarified that Hunter’s LCL injury was isolated and there was no additional damage to his knee. Under the care of team doctor Kevin Kaplan, the surgery took place in Dallas, and Hunter is expected to return to full football activities within six months.
With this surgery, Hunter will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2025 season, marking a challenging setback in his first year with the team. Despite this misfortune, he managed to make an impact on the field prior to his injury, participating in seven games where he played primarily as a receiver. In this time, he achieved 28 receptions for 298 yards alongside a touchdown, while also contributing defensively with 15 total tackles and three passes defensed.
Hunter was a significant choice for Jacksonville, representing their first major draft under General Manager James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen. The organization is hopeful that with his projected full recovery, Hunter will be back to showcase his talents in the 2026 season. His potential remains high, and fans are eager to see him return stronger than ever.