Why Travis Hunter bulked up during the Jaguars' 2026 offseason

Jacksonville Jaguars two-way star Travis Hunter has visibly bulked up during the 2026 offseason while rehabbing a knee injury that ended his rookie year. Head coach Liam Coen says Hunter's upper body looks stronger, and NFL fans have noticed the transformation on social media ahead of his second season.

Travis Hunter entered the NFL as the No. 2 overall pick in 2025 after winning the Heisman Trophy at Colorado under Deion Sanders. A torn lateral collateral ligament in his right knee cut his debut campaign to seven games. Rather than sit idle, Hunter turned the weight room into what he called his "best friend" — a practical offseason investment that could pay off when he returns to the field.

Key Takeaways

• Travis Hunter added noticeable upper-body muscle while rehabbing a torn LCL that ended his 2025 rookie season after seven games.
• Hunter said bulking was not the primary goal — he focused on overall fitness because he could not run during recovery.
• Head coach Liam Coen praised Hunter's physical progress, and side-by-side photos sparked viral reactions from NFL fans on X.
• Hunter is expected to keep playing both wide receiver and cornerback, with a potentially heavier defensive workload in 2026.
• Former NFL cornerback DeAngelo Hall believes Hunter has elite ball skills and could thrive with more cornerback focus.

Why did Travis Hunter bulk up during the offseason?

The short answer is necessity, not vanity. Back in late May, Hunter told Ryan O'Halloran of the Florida Times-Union that adding muscle was not a deliberate focus. "It wasn't a focus," he said. "It was me going in there and getting my overall body right and getting in shape. Because I couldn't run, so weight room was my best friend, being able to let out some anger because I didn't have my two feet."

That framing matters for anyone treating career setbacks like a portfolio dip: Hunter redirected energy he could not spend on the field into the one training channel still available. He declined to share exact numbers, telling reporters with a smile, "You'll have to wait for that."

Hunter has been rehabbing the knee injury that cut his rookie year short. He was not on the field during Jacksonville's offseason programs, but he stayed in meeting rooms and used the team's virtual room to stack mental reps at both wide receiver and cornerback. Reports indicate he could be cleared by training camp, though a ramp-up period may be required after missing so much time.

What do NFL fans think about Hunter's new look?

Side-by-side photos comparing Hunter's rookie debut look to his current offseason build spread quickly after "Bussin' With the Boys" posted them on X. The first image showed Hunter in his Jaguars uniform early in his career; the second showed him in the same jersey looking bulked up with a new hairstyle.

Reactions ranged from impressed to skeptical. One fan wrote, "First time he's lifted in 12 years of playing football is crazy…" Another suggested the visual difference was mostly cosmetic: "All he did was take off his sleeves and cut his hair." Others compared Hunter to former running back Frank Gore or joked about "ozempthick." One comment simply read, "Not a good development."

The social buzz underscores how visible physical change drives narrative — and how much Jacksonville's franchise player carries on his shoulders. Hunter appeared and started seven games in 2025 before the LCL injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season. At 23, he remains one of the league's most watched two-way experiments.

What is Liam Coen saying about Hunter's progress?

Internal validation carries more weight than fan memes. Coen told reporters earlier this offseason that he has been "very pleased with Travis and the way like he looks, his upper body." The head coach added that Hunter runs outside his office in the mornings and "looks like he's been in the weight room."

That staff-level confidence aligns with the organization's broader rehab plan. Hunter will continue to play both ways, although compared to last season, his workload on defense could increase. For a team that went 13-4 in 2025 yet lost in the Wild Card Round, every incremental gain from a No. 2 pick matters.

If you follow stories about turning downtime into long-term advantage, our Wealth Hacks & Passive Income section covers similar compound-growth mindsets applied beyond the gridiron.

Can Travis Hunter become an elite corner for the Jaguars?

Former NFL cornerback DeAngelo Hall believes the answer is yes — especially if Hunter leans into defense. Hall told Hard Rock Bet that coaches who worked with Hunter at Colorado would call him to say, "This guy has some of the best ball skills I've ever seen."

"You saw that when he played receiver, and you even saw it sometimes when he was playing DB," Hall said. "So most quarterbacks or offenses aren't necessarily scared of throwing the football unless they think the DB they're targeting can take it away from them. That's the fear factor Travis Hunter has at cornerback because he can definitely create takeaways."

Hall added that he is looking forward to watching Hunter play through a healthy season where he does not have to go back and forth between positions as much. Black and Teal noted that Hunter may not be full-go until the opener against the Cleveland Browns, but that timeline could allow extra study time at corner. ESPN analyst Benjamin Solak has also argued that Hunter flashed potential in 2025 even though his technique needed work.

When will Travis Hunter return to the field?

Timing remains the biggest unanswered question. Hunter was not participating in on-field work during Jacksonville's offseason programs while rehabbing, though he remained active in meeting rooms and the team's virtual rep room. Reports suggest clearance could come by training camp, with a gradual ramp-up afterward given how much time he has missed.

Black and Teal reported that Hunter may not be a full-go player until the season opener against the Cleveland Browns. Until then, the visible bulk-up is the most tangible proof that his downtime was not wasted — and that the Jaguars' No. 2 pick is still building toward the deeper playoff run the franchise wants after a 13-4 season ended in the Wild Card Round.

For official updates on Hunter's rehab and role, Yahoo Sports continues to track his path toward a second-season debut that Jacksonville hopes extends well beyond the regular season.