JACKSONVILLE – Travis Hunter is ready.

Sunday's 2026 regular-season opener will be his first game since last November. But for the player the Jaguars selected No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Sunday will be less about a comeback story and more about something simpler.

"It's really just football," Hunter said from the Jaguars' locker room at the Miller Electric Center Thursday as the Jaguars (13-4, AFC South Champions in 2025) prepared to play the Cleveland Browns (5-12) at EverBank Field Sunday at 1 p.m.

"I'm really happy to be able to go back out there and play football again."

Sunday's game will be Hunter's first since the Jaguars' loss to the Los Angeles Rams at Wembley Stadium in London last October 19. Hunter recorded his first NFL 100-yard receiving day and first NFL touchdown that day, with a knee injury sustained in practice two weeks later ending his rookie season with 10 games remaining.

"It's about to be 10 months since I played a real down of football," said Hunter, a full participant all training camp – including joint practices against the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. "It started off a little rusty, but I started to get back in my groove towards the end of training camp."

Hunter on Sunday is expected to start at cornerback, where he practiced extensively during the last weeks of training camp. Defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile on Thursday called Hunter's extra work there "a great thing" in terms of increased timing and cohesion with the defense.

"Having him with us a little bit more, that's been good for all that," Campanile said. "We do a fair amount on defense, so there is a lot of communication, and we really rely on that at every position.

"His communication in the meetings, on the field, and anytime you get more of an opportunity to do that, the players get more of an opportunity to do that amongst each other."

Added Hunter, "It just helped a lot being able to be comfortable when I'm on the field with the guys, let them know that they can trust me. I'm going to be able to do my job. I'm going to be in the right spot when I need to be."

Hunter will now be exactly back where he said he is supposed to be: On the field, playing an important role for the Jaguars as they look to get off to a fast start in Week 1.

"Everybody knows I can't sit on the sideline," he said. "I don't like sitting on the sideline."

NOTABLE I

Right tackle Cole Van Lanen (knee) was listed as limited Thursday on the Jaguars' second injury report of the week, with running back LeQuint Allen Jr. (hip) listed as limited Thursday after not practicing Wednesday. Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (hip) was listed as limited for a second consecutive day Thursday. Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen on Wednesday said Van Lanen likely will be a game-time decision Sunday, with Meyers on Wednesday saying he will play Sunday.

NOTABLE II

With the offense set to see a newly-installed Browns defense on Sunday led by first-time defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg, the Jaguars have worked to prepare for every scenario. Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski on Thursday said that's the nature of the regular-season opener no matter the opponent. "Any Week 1, there's always the questions going in to how true are they going to be to what they've shown in preseason or even what they've shown in previous years," Udinski said. "A new coordinator adds that extra element of challenge because you see that he has a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences being a part of different fronts and different coverage structures."

NOTABLE III

Veteran defensive tackle Arik Armstead is set to be a big piece of the Jaguars' pass rush again this season – and the 12th-year veteran on Thursday drew praise from Campanile. "He had a great summer," Campanile said of Armstead. "He looks great. Honestly, I think he looks as good as he ever had." Armstead had 5.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits last season. "I've coached him here one year, going into our second year, but watching him over the course of his career, he looks as good as he ever has," Campanile said. "I'm excited for him. I think he's very excited. Watching him practice, he's got a great way about him right now, so I'm fired up for him."