MARK LONG Pro Football Writer, Author at The Rapid City Post

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

A hundred snaps for Travis Hunter? The Jaguars see no ceiling on the rookie’s contributions

September 20, 2025

No one should be surprised to see two-way star Travis Hunter play close to a hundred snaps against Houston on Sunday. The Jacksonville Jaguars just might need it. With receiver Brian Thomas Jr. struggling and dealing with a sore wrist, and cornerback Jarrian Jones recovering from back tightness, the Jaguars may ask the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner to do even more against the Texans. The team’s Mr. Everything played a whopping 85 snaps — 42 on offense and 43 on defense — in a 31-27 loss at Cincinnati last week. He was merely ramping up after missing the final two weeks during training camp with a shoulder injury.

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

FanDuel agrees to pay Jaguars roughly $5M to offset losses from ex-employee’s theft, AP source says

September 12, 2025

A person familiar with discussions says FanDuel has agreed to pay the Jacksonville Jaguars roughly $5 million to help offset the nearly $20 million that a former employee stole from the NFL franchise and deposited at the sportsbook. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because neither side had disclosed the agreement publicly. ESPN first reported the deal, which was finalized earlier this year. It came a year after financial manager Amit Patel pleaded guilty to stealing $22 million through a virtual credit card system the team used for expenses. Patel is serving a 6 1/2 year sentence in federal prison. He sued FanDuel last year.

Florida defensive lineman Brendan Bett (90) celebrates a tackle against LIU Brooklyn during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)

Florida’s Brendan Bett says spitting at opponent was ‘a terrible mistake’ that ‘won’t happen again’

September 8, 2025

Florida defensive lineman Brendan Bett publicly apologized for spitting at South Florida offensive lineman Cole Skinner and says “there is no excuse for my actions.” Bett also apologized to his teammates earlier in the day. Coach Billy Napier says the now-unranked Gators have yet to decide whether Bett will be suspended for Saturday night’s game at No. 3 LSU. Bett was ejected during the final drive against USF on Saturday, a 15-yard penalty that helped propel the Bulls to a stunning victory. It was one of two penalties assessed against the Gators during an 87-yard drive that set up Nico Gramatica’s 20-yard field goal on the final play.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) signs greets fans after an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter believes he ‘can do more and can do better’ after NFL debut

September 7, 2025

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter played offense and defense in his debut. He saw action on both sides of the ball in the team’s 26-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers. He played primarily on offense — he was on the field for 44 of 63 snaps — and chipped in six defensive snaps. He says, “I know I can do more and I know I can do better.” The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner at Colorado, Hunter finished with six receptions for 33 yards. Coach Liam Coen and quarterback Trevor Lawrence say Hunter made no mistakes on any of his plays.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) is forced out of bounds by New Orleans Saints safety Jonas Sanker (33) and cornerback Quincy Riley in the first half of an NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Etienne brothers will square off on opposite teams for the 1st time since childhood

September 2, 2025

Travis and Trevor Etienne are brothers born 5 1/2 years apart in Louisiana. Mostly because of their age difference, they never played competitive football on opposite teams. Until now. The running backs will square off for the first time at any level when Travis and the Jacksonville Jaguars host Trevor and the Carolina Panthers during the NFL’s opening weekend. Travis is entering the final year of his rookie contract, making this essentially the first of many auditions before free agency in March. Trevor, meanwhile, is beginning his rookie season after Carolina drafted him in the fourth round in April. They form the NFL’s newest brotherly rivalry.

FILE - Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter makes a reception during the NFL football team's rookie minicamp, Saturday, May 10, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

Jaguars rookie and new father Travis Hunter is ‘rolling full speed’ toward season opener

August 27, 2025

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone says two-way star and new father Travis Hunter is “rolling full speed” after missing the final two games of the preseason with an upper-body injury. Gladstone says the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner and the second pick in the NFL draft in April is good to go for the season opener against Carolina. The Jaguars have been taking a cautious approach with Hunter. He was injured during a scrimmage two weeks ago and sat out exhibitions against New Orleans and Miami. He posted a video titled “Dear Son” late Wednesday announcing the birth of his first child with wife Leanna Hunter.

Jaguars acquire receiver Tim Patrick from Lions for a sixth-round draft pick in 2026

August 27, 2025

The Jacksonville Jaguars are acquiring wide receiver Tim Patrick from Detroit for a sixth-round draft pick in 2026. The 31-year-old Patrick just needs to pass a physical for it to be official. Patrick missed all of 2022 and 2023 because of injuries but bounced back last season. He played 16 games for the Lions and finished with 33 receptions for 394 yards and three touchdowns. The Jaguars expect him to become their No. 5 receiver. They had been looking for a bigger receiver who could block on the perimeter and play special teams. Jacksonville waived receiver Austin Trammell to make room for Patrick on its roster.

Jacksonville Jaguars center Luke Fortner performs a drill during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Saints trade DT Saunders to Jaguars for C Fortner following preseason game, AP sources say

August 17, 2025

Two people familiar with negotiations say two-time Super Bowl champion defensive tackle Khalen Saunders is being traded from New Orleans to Jacksonville for center Luke Fortner. The swap comes hours after the teams played a preseason game at the Superdome. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity and said the trade will become official once both players pass physicals. Saunders started 27 games for the Saints over the last two seasons after a four-year stint in Kansas City that included two championships. He became expendable in New Orleans after the Saints switched to a 3-4 defense.

Jacksonville Jaguars place kicker Cam Little (39) celebrates a field goal during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Jaguars’ Cam Little hits a 70-yard field goal in an exhibition game against the Steelers

August 9, 2025

Jacksonville’s Cam Little made a 70-yard field goal to end the first half against Pittsburgh on Saturday night, a kick that would have broken the NFL record had it happened during the regular season. Little and the Jaguars celebrated widely as the half ended with the Steelers leading 14-9. Rookie sensation Travis Hunter was one of the first to greet him on the field, body-bumped each other in midair. Baltimore’s Justin Tucker holds the NFL mark, having made a 66-yarder at Detroit in 2021.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) smiles at photographers as he warms up during practice at the team's NFL football training camp, Monday, July 28, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Jaguars to play starters, including rookie Travis Hunter, in preseason opener against the Steelers

August 7, 2025

Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter will make his professional debut playing both sides of the ball. Jacksonville Jaguars coach Liam Coen says Hunter and most of the team’s other starters will play in their preseason opener against Pittsburgh on Saturday night. Coen says quarterback Trevor Lawrence, center Robert Hainsey and others expressed a desire to get some repetitions in the preseason. Lawrence hasn’t taken a snap in a live-ball situation since sustaining a concussion against Houston in early December; he had season-ending shoulder surgery soon thereafter. All eyes will be on Lawrence and Hunter.

FILE - Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) walks off the field following an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Dec. 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, File)

Jaguars DE Josh Hines-Allen says his 7-year-old son Wesley is recovering from leukemia

July 25, 2025

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen says his 7-year-old son is recovering from cancer. Hines-Allen and his wife provided the news in a three-minute video released on social media. They said the diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia came after Wesley spiked a fever and started bleeding from a tooth days before last year’s season finale, which Hines-Allen missed for personal reasons. Wesley underwent chemotherapy for six months. Hines-Allen and his wife also announced that their nonprofit foundation, Four One For All, will launch a season-long campaign to give back to four cancer-focused non-profits.

MARK LONG Pro Football Writer.