Sports

Travis Hunter has a chance to become just the fourth NFL player since 1980, and the first since 2012, to start at both wide receiver and cornerback in the same game.

It doesn't look like the Jacksonville Jaguars' two-way standout will accomplish that feat Sunday, though.

The Jaguars are planning on using the rookie as an "every-down" wideout and as a "situational" corner during their regular-season opener against the Carolina Panthers, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

That said, the Jaguars are expected to play Hunter full-time at both positions in some games this season, per Schefter, who also reported that Jacksonville is poised to keep opponents guessing about Hunter's usage week-to-week.

"We're going to have to figure it out," Jaguars first-year head coach Liam Coen said Friday, via ESPN. "We're going to have to all be flexible. We'll come up with that plan over the next 24 hours in terms like, alright, what are the exact maybe numbers we want to hit on both sides or usage?"

Hunter is currently listed as a starting wide receiver and backup cornerback on the Jaguars' depth chart. 

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Hunter is coming off a prolific final season at Colorado, where he played 753 snaps on offense, 776 on defense and 23 more on special teams in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus. Along the way, he caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns, plus he ran for one additional score. At cornerback, he picked off four passes and notably forced a fumble that clinched an overtime victory against Baylor.

Hunter didn't play in the Jaguars' final two preseason games. His absence in the first of those two outings was more notable considering all of the team's starters sat out the finale. He was dealing with an upper-body injury that also prevented him from fully participating in four practices, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco.

Logan Bowles via Getty Images

Although Hunter has since worked his way back, Coen wants to be mindful of that speed bump his No. 2 overall pick hit in training camp.

"He did miss some time, and so that's something that we just need to make sure we're aware of and keeping engaged as coaches to make sure that, if he's getting a little lost or doesn't know what he's doing on a few things, well, man, maybe we need to reel it back a little and get him a rest here maybe for a sec," Coen said Friday, via ESPN.

"Whatever it is, we've got to be flexible, but I thought he's done a really nice job of dedicating himself to the plan on both sides of the ball over the last few days and he was flying around pretty good today."

Hunter's first game action came in the preseason opener, during which he recorded 19 total snaps: 11 on offense and another eight on defense.

During camp, Jacksonville eased Hunter into practicing both positions, allowing him time to fully focus on each playbook before he played two ways in the same day.

Deion Sanders, Champ Bailey and Antonio Cromartie all started at both wideout and corner in the same game: Sanders in 1996, Bailey in 2000 and Cromartie in 2012.

It looks like Hunter will have to wait a little longer to join them.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and defensive lineman Cam Heyward have agreed to a restructured contract after an offseason hold-in, per multiple reports. The revised deal will give Heyward an added $3.2 million in incentives, giving the veteran tackle a chance to earn nearly $18 million.

Heyward and the Steelers brought things down to the wire, agreeing on a deal one day before Pittsburgh's season opener against the New York Jets. Heyward, who initially refused to commit to playing in Week 1, will play on Sunday after all.

Heyward is entering his 15th season in the NFL, all of them with the Steelers.

Heyward, a seven-time Pro-Bowler and the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year, is on the first year of a two-year, $29 million extension — a deal he signed coming off of an injury-ridden 2023 season. But in August, Heyward told reporters that he wanted a new deal that reflected his stellar 2024 season, where he earned his fourth All-Pro honor.

"It's hard for me, after the year that I had, to really justify playing at the number I'm playing at," Heyward said at the time. "I understand I signed a contract last year. But to be completely honest with you, when I signed that, I told them, 'When I have an All-Pro year, expect me to come back.'"

Heyward initially did not fully participate in offseason practice this season while seeking a new version of his deal, but returned to practice in mid-August despite not making progress on negotiations. After confirming his hold-in, Heyward hinted at the possibility that he would be willing to miss regular season games to get his deal, and told reporters "we'll see" about his availability on Friday.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters earlier this week that he expected Heyward to play.

"I'm sure he's champing at the bit," Tomlin said.

Now, Heyward, who has previously expressed his desire to be "one of those one-helmet guys," gets to secure a more comfortable short-term future with the Steelers, and will be out there for Sunday's season opener after resolving the contract issue.