The much-anticipated NFL debut of Jacksonville Jaguars first-round pick Travis Hunter showcased his unique two-way potential, but it was a quiet first night statistically as the Jaguars fell 31-25 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in their preseason opener Saturday.
Hunter, the Heisman Trophy winner and second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, played 10 snaps on offense and eight on defense in his first professional game. He caught two passes for nine yards — his longest gain a modest six-yard reception — and missed an open-field tackle in limited defensive work. There were no highlight-reel moments from the rookie, but he was still part of one of the evening’s most memorable plays.
That moment came late in the first half, when Jaguars kicker Cam Little drilled a 70-yard field goal as time expired — a kick that would have shattered the NFL’s all-time record if it had occurred in the regular season. Holder Logan Cooke raised his arms as soon as the ball took flight, Little leaned in, then punched the air as the kick cleared the crossbar by several yards and into the hands of the ball boy. Teammates swarmed him in celebration, with Hunter meeting him on the field for a midair body-bump.
Baltimore’s Justin Tucker still holds the official NFL record with a 66-yarder against Detroit in 2021, but Little — a sixth-round pick out of Arkansas in 2024 — showed why he’s one of the league’s rising special teams stars. As a rookie, Little made 27 of 29 field goals with a long of 59 yards and was perfect on extra points.
The Steelers, however, had more to cheer about overall. With most of their stars — including Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, T.J. Watt, and Jalen Ramsey — sitting out, Pittsburgh’s backup quarterbacks carved up Jacksonville’s defense. Veteran Mason Rudolph completed 9 of 10 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown on the opening drive, and third-stringer Skylar Thompson threw for 233 yards and three scores in relief.
In total, the Steelers’ top two quarterbacks combined to go 29-for-38 for 317 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover. Pittsburgh rookie Max Hurleman, a former Colgate running back turned Notre Dame defensive back now back at RB, caught a three-yard touchdown in the second quarter and celebrated with an impressive backflip.
For Jacksonville, first-year head coach Liam Coen’s debut had growing pains. The offense was plagued by early penalties and four first-half drops from Parker Washington, Tank Bigsby, Trenton Irwin, and Hunter Long. Defensively, the Jaguars’ starters were picked apart on the opening drive.
One bright spot was the return of Trevor Lawrence, playing in his first game since suffering a severe concussion against Houston last December. The fourth-year QB looked sharp, completing 6 of 7 passes for 43 yards in a single series, adding a three-yard scramble that ended with a hard hit.
Up Next: The Steelers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Saturday, while the Jaguars travel to New Orleans next Sunday.
