Overview
- Hunter tore the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee in late October, had surgery that the Jaguars said found no additional knee damage, and was given a six-month timetable to return to full activity.
- In late May 2026 he has attended OTAs in a limited role, logging weight-room work and daily sessions in the Jaguars’ virtual walkthrough wall to burn out 15–40 simulated reps without running.
- Jacksonville’s front office and coaches have reiterated that Hunter will be used on both sides of the ball in 2026, with general manager James Gladstone saying the club plans a higher defensive emphasis.
- Hunter says he feels stronger after offseason weight training, that outside criticism does not bother him, and he expects to be fully cleared by training camp if his rehab progresses as planned.
- The two-way experiment raises durability and workload questions that the Jaguars must answer with medical clearance, managed snap counts, and in-season monitoring of Hunter’s recovery and performance.