JACKSONVILLE – Travis Hunter has his eyes on developing – and winning.

Hunter has been a hot topic at the start of the 2026 season, which isn't changing as the Jaguars prepare for a second big early-season division game in as many weeks.

"I'm just happy I can continue to get better," Hunter said Thursday as the AFC South-leading Jaguars (1-1) prepare to play host to the New England Patriots (1-1) at EverBank Stadium Sunday.

Hunter, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, has played mostly cornerback this season while playing more occasionally at wide receiver. He has played 66 defensive snaps in the first two games, approximately 58 percent of defensive plays.

"The more reps obviously you get, the better that you're going to be," Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile said Thursday. "As time goes on, you're always looking at those things. Every game is a little bit different. Those conversations are always being had every game.

"It can change week to week, but yeah, that's always a challenge."

Weeks 1 and 2 marked Hunter's first games since he sustained a season-ending knee injury last October 30, ending his rookie season after seven games.

"I feel like I just move a lot quicker," Hunter said. "I know a lot more than what I did last year, and I just feel like the guys are starting to trust me a little more and more every week. So just continue to just get better and be comfortable out there."

Hunter this season has played as part of a rotation at outside cornerback with fellow veteran cornerbacks Jarrian Jones and Montaric Brown. Offensively, he played 10 snaps through the first two weeks with one reception for eight yards in a Week 1 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Hunter played six snaps offensively in a Week 2 road loss to the Denver Broncos, a 20-13 loss that marked the Jaguars' lowest points total since a 35-7 Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last season at Wembley Stadium in London.

"Anytime you struggle, offensively specifically, you look at the totality of it all and Travis is a big part of that," Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen said this week. "We're looking at continuing to find different ways to get him involved.

"You're also looking at the other side of the ball and looking at are we batting here on defense in terms of all that stuff. The missed assignments, communication. I thought he did a nice job, throughout the course of the week and we're going to look at giving him some more this week."

NOTABLE

• Linebacker Branson Combs missed practice with a personal matter Thursday, with the Jaguars listing five players as practicing limited for a second consecutive day on Thursday's second injury report of the week: Running back LeQuint Allen Jr. (hip), center Robert Hainsey (elbow/groin), defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton (back), wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (thumb) and right tackle Cole Van Lanen (knee). Allen, Meyers and Van Lanen were listed similarly last week and played in the loss to Denver. Cornerback Christian Braswell was listed as practicing full for a second consecutive day with a knee issue.

NOTABLE

• The Jaguars' run defense has been the hallmark of Campanile's defense since his 2025 hiring, and that hasn't changed. The Jaguars have allowed 95 yards rushing a game this season and will have a tough test this week with the dual-threat backfield of Patriots running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. "They're both great players, a little bit different, but that's a challenge, getting in there," Campanile said. The two runners have different styles, with Stevenson serving as the physical hammer of the running game and Henderson's value coming as the Patriots' home-run hitter, meaning the Jaguars have plenty to prepare for with both. "That's definitely a challenge, because you got some guys that can break it if you don't get your eyes right, you're not playing with gap integrity, there's not a team tackling mentality," Campanile said. "Those things are going to show up and they're going to get you. And they've gotten people that way."

NOTABLE

• The Jaguars, after facing one of the NFL's best cornerbacks in Pat Surtain II of the Denver Broncos last week, face another big challenge this week in Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez – the NFL's highest-paid corner. Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski noted Thursday that Gonzalez does more than defend the pass. "You look at the run game, and he's one of the surest t