JACKSONVILLE – One of the busiest jobs at the Jaguars’ preseason training camp is for the equipment manager assigned to shadow Travis Hunter.

He has a thankless, but important, task of carrying a white pullover jersey with the number 12. Hunter always starts each workout wearing his teal jersey utilized by the offense, but at any moment – and there are at least a dozen times at each practice – he slipped the white pullover over his regular jersey and joined the defensive huddle.

Playing on both sides of the ball requires twice the work, preparation and costume changes – not only for Hunter, but for the equipment manager as well.

Through six practice sessions, Hunter was part of 98 plays – 58 as a cornerback and 40 as a wide receiver.

Training is an important time for Hunter, Jacksonville’s first round pick in 2025. Not only does he have to learn both playbooks, but he’s also returning after suffering a non-contact torn lateral collateral ligament in late October that required season-ending surgery.

So far, Hunter has exceeded everyone’s expectations.

“I'm pleased with the way he's at least attacked everything that we're trying to do,” head coach Liam Coen said. “I'm never really concerned with Travis's ability to try to stay locked in and to be present wherever he is in the moment.”

After Day 6 on Tuesday morning, Hunter had five catches, two pass break-ups and an interception.

“It's been great to be back,” he said. “I really don't even study the schedule. I just go out there and do my job, you know? The coaches put the schedule together. They say, ‘Hey Trav, you’re going to be here two plays, you’re going to be there at this play.’ I just go over there and do what they tell me to do, but I just study the whole playbook.”

Hunter said the coaching staff determines when to switch jerseys. The team said they wanted to use him more on defense this year, but they admitted his speed – he’s been clocked at 22.6 mph – also makes him an asset on offense.

“The coaches communicate with me, you know? They show me before practice, but in the heat of things, you’re just going out there and playing, so they'll come and let me know, ‘Travis, you’re out,’ or, ‘You’ve got three plays off,’ or, ‘You’ve got two plays off,’ or, ‘You’re in right now.’ So, the coaches communicate it with me very well,” he said.

Hunter will be an integral part of the Jaguars’ attempt to replicate last year’s 13-4 regular season record and AFC South championship. Oddsmakers apparently believe 2025 was a fluke because they’ve set the number of expected wins at just 8.5.

The first eight games will tell the story because Jacksonville will play at Denver, against New England, Philadelphia and Houston, and at Baltimore in that stretch.

Also, the $1.4 billion renovation of EverBank Stadium will force the team to play their 2027 home games at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. So, not counting playoff games this year, the Jaguars will be on the road for 28 of their next 34 games.

Hunter gained 10 pounds during his rehabilitation to get ready for the grind. Oddly enough, the extra muscle made him even quicker. In fact, only two NFL players have been clocked at faster speeds.

“I was a small guy coming in. Everybody was like, ‘Gain weight, gain weight.’ Coach [Coen] was like, ‘Hey, play at whatever weight you’re happy at.’ So, me just coming in and putting on those pounds and being like, ah, I was scared at first,” he said.

“I'm like, aw, dang, I’ve never played at this weight. I’m going to feel heavy, not going to be able to do what I do. Training and being able to put those months in, not just on the grass, but in the weight room too, just putting in extra work, it made me feel lighter on my feet when I finally touched the grass. I’m happy to be at this weight and continue to play at this weight.”

After all, playing on both sides of the ball will be a heavy burden.