Fans Defend Deion Sanders After Analyst Questions Jaguars' Use of Travis Hunter

Travis Hunter's split snap counts in Jacksonville's loss to Denver sparked criticism that fans turned back on Deion Sanders.

Travis Hunter's snap distribution in the Jacksonville Jaguars' 20-13 defeat against Denver has become a talking point around the league. The second-year defender appeared on 37 of the team's 62 defensive snaps but just seven on offense, going without a single target as a receiver.

On defense, Hunter notched four tackles and broke up a pass, though he also drew a 22-yard pass interference flag on the drive that put Denver in front. First Coast News analyst Brent Martineau questioned the approach, asking why the No. 2 overall pick was being used in a rotation at all. Former linebacker Austen Lane agreed, noting that rotating made sense in a blowout win over Cleveland earlier in the season but not in a close contest.

Martineau argued the Jaguars should fully commit to their draft investment, saying a player taken second overall should not be part of a rotation and that the franchise must be willing to sink or swim with him.

When the discussion spread to social media, columnist Jason Whitlock contended that Sanders, Hunter's college coach, had marketed him as a history-making two-way talent rather than as a shutdown cornerback, contributing to unrealistic expectations. Several fans rejected that framing, with one calling it a jealous attack on Sanders and another dismissing it as a clown statement.

Others pointed out that Sanders has no control over how Jacksonville deploys Hunter in the NFL, while some noted his college pedigree, including the Heisman Trophy he won under Sanders, and the financial security his draft status brought him.