Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter will miss the rest of the season after knee surgery. The team shared that Hunter had a lateral collateral ligament (LCL) repair in Dallas, performed by Dr. Dan Cooper and team physician Dr. Kevin Kaplan. Thankfully, no additional damage was found, and Hunter is expected to fully return to football activities in about six months.
Hunter was placed on injured reserve on October 31 after a non-contact injury during practice. Initially, there was uncertainty about the severity of his injury, but an MRI confirmed that his ACL was intact. Further tests, however, revealed damage to his LCL, which led to the decision for surgery.
Before his injury, Hunter was showing promise as a key player. In his last game, he caught eight passes for 104 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams. This performance came during a tough 35-7 loss. Overall, he had 28 receptions for 298 yards and one touchdown this season, alongside 15 tackles and three pass breakups on defense. Hunter was stepping up as the Jaguars’ top receiver, especially as Brian Thomas Jr. struggled with drops.
In response to Hunter’s injury, alongside similar injuries to Thomas and Dyami Brown, the Jaguars traded for Jakobi Meyers from the Las Vegas Raiders. In his debut with Jacksonville, Meyers played 24 snaps and grabbed three catches for 41 yards in a loss to Houston.
As of now, the Jaguars are preparing to face the Los Angeles Chargers this Sunday. The team’s ability to adapt to these setbacks will be crucial in their upcoming games.
In recent years, the NFL has seen a surge in injuries related to young players. According to a 2022 report from the NFL’s Injury Data report, approximately 70% of injuries occur during practice rather than games. This highlights the importance of injury prevention and management during training sessions. Coach Doug Pederson and the Jaguars’ staff will need to ensure that player safety remains a top priority as they adjust their strategies going forward.
Hunter’s potential remains bright, and fans are eager to see how he will rebound after recovery. His journey reflects the resilience and challenges faced by many athletes today.
