Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter will not return to the field this season after undergoing surgery to repair a lateral collateral ligament injury in his right knee, the team confirmed Tuesday. The procedure was successful, and the Jaguars said no further damage was found. Hunter is expected to make a full recovery and return to football activities in approximately six months.
The injury, which occurred during practice on October 30, had already landed Hunter on the injured reserve list. His absence now becomes long-term, cutting short a rookie season that was beginning to show significant promise.
Hunter, who was selected No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, had started making an impact on both sides of the ball. In his standout performance against the Rams in London during Week 7, he tallied eight receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. Over nine games, he recorded 28 catches for 298 yards and one touchdown as a wide receiver, while contributing 15 tackles and three pass deflections on defense.
Hunter played 67 percent of offensive snaps and 36 percent of defensive snaps before his injury. The Jaguars moved up in the draft to select him, trading multiple picks to the Cleveland Browns, including a 2026 first-rounder.
His loss adds to Jacksonville’s ongoing injury challenges, especially at receiver. Brian Thomas Jr. recently missed time with an ankle injury, and Dyami Brown is recovering from a concussion. The team recently acquired Jakobi Meyers to help stabilize the group in Hunter’s absence.
