The Jacksonville Jaguars made the transfer in Week 7 to run the offense by means of rookie two-way menace Travis Hunter — and it introduced out one of the best in him. He set season highs in catches (eight) and receiving yards (104) and caught his first landing move whereas the remainder of the offense was stagnant throughout a 35-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
After the Jaguars obtained again from their Week 8 bye, they deliberate to show Hunter unfastened on offense once more. However he suffered a non-contact LCL damage to his proper knee throughout an Oct. 30 apply which derailed that concept. The Jaguars introduced that Hunter’s season is over after he underwent surgical procedure to restore the damage on Tuesday.
The No. 2 total decide within the 2025 NFL draft completed his rookie season with 28 catches for 298 yards and a landing. On protection, he had 15 tackles and three move breakups. He performed 67% of the group’s offensive snaps and 36% of the defensive snaps till his damage.
The Jaguars (5-4) nonetheless have to determine life with out him, particularly if they will stay in playoff competition over their remaining eight video games (in accordance with ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index, they’ve a 40% probability of creating the playoffs).
ESPN Jaguars reporter Michael DiRocco and senior author and damage analyst Stephania Bell weigh in on the damage and the way Hunter’s loss impacts the Jaguars now and probably in 2026.
What’s an LCL damage? What is the regular restoration time?
The LCL, or lateral collateral ligament, is without doubt one of the 4 main stabilizing ligaments of the knee (together with the MCL or medial collateral ligament, ACL and PCL, or anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments). The LCL runs from the lateral femur (thigh bone) to the pinnacle of the fibula (the lengthy skinny bone on the outer aspect of the decrease leg) and helps shield in opposition to forces that will bow the leg outward.
LCL accidents could be the results of a blow to the knee on the internal (medial) aspect that creates a varus stress. It’s far much less frequent to have a non-contact LCL damage, however a clumsy step or planting of the foot may end up in a big varus or varus-hyperextension power, stressing the lateral and postero-lateral space of the knee.
Forces massive sufficient to fully tear the LCL usually lead to further injury to different adjoining constructions such because the lateral hamstring, the lateral meniscus, the posterior capsule and different posterior ligaments/tendons. The LCL will also be injured along side one of many cruciate ligaments. An remoted LCL tear is comparatively uncommon however in the end much less complicated relating to surgical procedure and restoration than an damage involving a number of constructions.
Any ligament damage is classed as a sprain and could be graded 1 (delicate), 2 (reasonable) or 3 (extreme). A Grade 3 damage signifies a whole tear of the ligament. Grading displays tissue injury and joint laxity on stress testing, particularly varus (bowing of the knee) stress, with a whole tear leading to vital instability on the lateral side of the knee. Delicate to reasonable sprains are usually handled conservatively with bodily remedy with restoration starting from two to eight weeks. Extra vital accidents with persistent instability could require surgical procedure with a projected restoration of roughly six months.
Comparisons for LCL damage/surgical procedure are comparatively few and, of these, most are extra complicated than an remoted tear. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs broad receiver Rashee Rice suffered a contact damage in October 2024 that resulted in surgical procedure to deal with the LCL whereas additionally repairing his hamstring tendon. Rice returned to play in October 2025 (Be aware: Rice may have began within the season opener however was serving a six-game suspension.)
Cowboys working again Javonte Williams suffered an ACL/LCL and full posterolateral nook damage that required reconstructive surgical procedure in 2022 whereas with the Denver Broncos. He returned to start out the season in 2023 however struggled to match his pre-injury efficiency. His type has lastly returned in 2025, his first 12 months with the Dallas Cowboys.
Enjoyable truth: Dr. Dan Cooper, head group doctor for the Cowboys, carried out the surgical procedures on Williams, Rice and now Hunter. Within the case of Hunter, Dr. Kevin Kaplan, head group doctor for the Jaguars, additionally assisted with the surgical procedure. — Bell
Are there any long-term ramifications of the damage?
There actually should not be on this case provided that it was an remoted LCL tear for Hunter. If actually there was no different ligamentous, meniscus or cartilage injury then the rehabilitation course of is pretty easy. The offseason will enable Hunter loads of time for the tissue restore to heal and to progress his bodily conditioning and he ought to be able to take part at some stage in organized group actions (OTAs). — Bell
May Hunter’s workload have contributed to the damage?
The Jaguars spoke with a number of individuals at Colorado to learn the way they managed Hunter’s workload they usually collaborated with their coaching, gear, vitamin and sports activities science staffs to place collectively a schedule to permit Hunter to work on each side of the ball. They made positive they stayed versatile, although, and adjusted issues as camp progressed, so they’re assured that his workload didn’t contribute to the damage. Actually, these contained in the Jaguars’ constructing view it as a freak damage. It was non-contact, which might generally strike out of the blue. It occurred when he planted his proper leg whereas in protection on a defensive drill.
Hunter wasn’t a full-time participant on both aspect of the ball — he performed 67% of the group’s offensive snaps and 36% of the defensive snaps till his damage — and the variety of reps and the physicality of apply are considerably much less throughout in-season practices than in coaching camp, so he wasn’t carrying a ridiculous bodily workload.
The Jaguars have misplaced a excessive draft decide to an identical non-contact damage earlier than. Defensive finish Dante Fowler Jr., the third total decide in 2015, suffered a torn left ACL lower than an hour into the primary day of rookie minicamp. — DiRocco
Will this damage change how the Jaguars use Hunter in 2026?
The Jaguars drafted Hunter to be the league’s first common two-way participant and normal supervisor James Gladstone referred to as him somebody who may “alter the trajectory of the game.”
As a result of there isn’t any further injury to the knee and the group considers it a freak damage, their plan for Hunter probably will not change.
What may change is on which aspect of the ball he spends extra time.
Hunter is thought to be somebody with elite cornerback abilities, however he spent extra time on offense as a result of studying to grow to be an NFL receiver and selecting up coach Liam Coen’s self-described complicated offense would take extra time. And that is additionally the place the Jaguars wanted him extra; there was higher depth at cornerback.
Hunter had moved into the No. 1 receiver function previous to his damage and relying on what the group does within the offseason, he is prone to be WR1 subsequent season, too, however that will not maintain him off the sector on protection. He primarily performed as an outdoor nook when the group performed nickel protection, but when the Jaguars do not re-sign Greg Newsome II that will clear the way in which for him to be a starter reverse Jourdan Lewis. That might probably knock down some reps on offense, particularly if he’s an elite nook. — DiRocco
How does Hunter’s damage affect the offense?
Hunter is the group’s greatest playmaker with the ball in his fingers. That is quite a bit to exchange, and his affect on the offense is notable. Within the first seven video games with Hunter, the Jaguars averaged 334.9 whole yards per sport and 215.1 yards per sport passing. Within the two video games with out Hunter within the lineup, the Jaguars’ manufacturing dipped to 290 whole yards per sport and 167.5 yards per sport passing. Apparently, the factors per sport are up (26 vs. 19) as is their third-down conversion share (48.1% vs 33%).
Whereas the addition of receiver Jakobi Meyers (through a commerce with Las Vegas) helps, Meyers is named a sure-handed receiver and never a stretch-the-field man (he averages 11.9 yards per catch over his profession). Which can assist, because the Jaguars lead the NFL with 20 drops.
Final 12 months’s first-round decide Brian Thomas Jr., who missed final week’s sport with an ankle damage, goes to must step up and play like he did as a rookie, when he completed third within the NFL in receiving yards behind Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. Parker Washington goes to must grow to be extra concerned than he was earlier than, too. Dyami Brown, whom the group signed to a one-year, $10 million deal, has been disappointing, and his function has decreased. Which signifies that guys like Tim Patrick, Tim Jones and Austin Trammell will get extra taking part in time.
There may be some excellent news for the offense, although: Tight finish Brenton Unusual’s 21-day apply window opens Wednesday and he may play on Sunday. He is a key blocker within the run sport, but additionally a security valve for quarterback Trevor Lawrence and somebody who can work the center of the sector. Count on an excellent increased dose of working again Travis Etienne Jr. within the move sport, too. — DiRocco