The Jacksonville Jaguars are openly defending their usage of 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
Coach Liam Coen said Friday that Hunter’s sole focus is on winning games — and nothing else. Coen added that neither of them is concerned about how little Hunter has played on offense this season or that he has shared defensive snaps with fellow cornerbacks Montaric Brown, Jarrian Jones and Jourdan Lewis.
“He cares about winning. That’s what he cares about,” Coen said. “And all the other stuff, the reps, where we picked him, I don’t (care) and neither does he. We care about winning, and that’s it.”
The Jaguars (2-1) play at Cincinnati (2-1) on Sunday, with Hunter returning to the place where he was flagged for a costly pass interference penalty on fourth down in the fourth quarter last year that kept alive the Bengals’ winning drive.
“We gave him a chance to be able to call that call,” Hunter said Thursday. “I just got to put myself in the right position the whole game.”
Jacksonville gave up two first-round draft picks, a second-rounder and a fourth to move up three spots and draft Hunter second overall in 2025. The Jaguars also received fourth- and sixth-round selections in return from Cleveland.
Jaguars general manager James Gladstone raised eyebrows by saying Hunter has “the capacity to alter the trajectory of the sport.”
It hasn’t happened yet. Hunter has played sparingly on offense this season — 15 snaps in three games — mostly because the Jaguars traded for Jakobi Meyers late last year and have seen Parker Washington take over the No. 1 receiver role.
Rookie Josh Cameron also has been so impressive that he appears to be on the verge of supplanting Brian Thomas Jr. as the team’s No. 3 receiver.
Between those changes and playing more with two tight ends, there’s not a lot left for Hunter on that side of the ball.
He has, however, made progress on defense, breaking up a pass in Denver in Week 2 and then intercepting his first pass last week against New England.
“It’s just a mental mindset,” Hunter said. “You got to be able to see the ball and go get it. You just got to have that attitude about it.”
Hunter played more on offense than defense last season and was set to become the team’s featured receiver when he tore a ligament in his right knee in practice and missed the rest of the season. He watched organized team activities from afar and didn’t gain full clearance until the start of training camp.
“Is he perfect? No. Are any of our players perfect? No,” Jaguars executive vice president Tony Boselli said on his radio show last week. “He’s one of the 53 that are trying to win us football games, and he’s doing a heck of a job. We love him.
“We’re glad Travis Hunter is on our team, the same we’re glad DaVon Hamilton is on our team, the same we’re glad Trevor Lawrence is our quarterback.”
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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) intercepts a pass against New England Patriots wide receiver Efton Chism III (86) in the first half during an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) speaks in a press conference after an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) intercepts a pass intended for New England Patriots wide receiver Efton Chism III (86) in the first half during an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Group of Seven wealthy democracies said Friday that they plan to release 100 million barrels of oil and fuel products in the coming weeks, starting with “substantial” amounts of diesel after the fuel recently hit record high prices in the United States.
President Donald Trump said the diesel release would happen “immediately," echoing a G7 promise to start “immediately” with a “frontloaded substantial release” of diesel within the next 20 days and the rest over four months.
Trump and his Republican Party face pressure to address surging prices ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, and Trump announced the action Friday on social media. The president's approval ratings on the economy hit a new low, according to an AP-NORC poll, as the Iran war and his trade battles have increased U.S. prices for oil and other goods.
Gas prices in the U.S. and abroad have soared during the eight-month-long war, a cost Trump has repeatedly said is worth it for making sure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons. The national average for a gallon of diesel in the U.S. was $6.37 on Friday, according to AAA, after hitting a record $6.52 on Sept. 22. Diesel prices have hit records in Europe, too.
France holds the rotating presidency of the G7 group and made the announcement in a statement released after videoconference talks that Macron presided over. The G7 countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K. and the U.S., plus EU representation.
The release follows on from a March announcement that International Energy Agency member countries would release 426 million barrels of oil and products to stabilize the oil market. European Union countries committed about 92 million barrels, a promise weighted toward refined products made from crude such as diesel.
“This common decision and this unity should bring down prices," Macron said. "The volumes we’re releasing should also add liquidity to the market and bring down prices.”
In addition to the rise in the price of the crude oil from which diesel is made, other factors include the decision by Russia to ban exports due to Ukrainian drone strikes on its refineries. Europe does not import Russian diesel, but other buyers of Russian diesel such as Turkey and Latin American countries must now compete with Europe for available barrels.
Meanwhile refined product shipments from the Persian Gulf producers have fallen due to war damage and blocked export routes.
Some Republicans in the U.S. had called for Trump to ban U.S. exports of diesel to try to bring domestic prices down. But the G7 statement said the group agreed not to limit energy exports to each other. Oil market analysts warn a U.S. export ban could lower prices in the short term but eventually backfire by reducing supplies of gasoline since diesel output can't be lowered without also cutting overall refinery production.
Trump had a conversation overnight with Macron about the need to address rising fuel prices and the availability of petroleum products, according to the French Embassy in the U.S. Macron on Friday then chaired the videoconference of G7 leaders to discuss the issue.
Besides his call with Macron, Trump on Friday called in to the meeting with the G7 leaders to negotiate the release of the European diesel stockpiles, according to a White House official who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Trump on Thursday embarked on what he said would be a 32-day marathon of rallies to try to bolster his party's chances for keeping control of the U.S. House and Senate in the November elections. The president has grown increasingly frustrated with what he sees as a disconnect between his achievements and the public’s view of his work. This week he gave himself an A-plus for his work on the economy but said “we’re doing an extremely poor job of promotion.”
Leicester reported from Paris. AP writer Michelle L. Price contributed to this report. AP Business Writer David McHugh contributed from Frankfurt, Germany.
France President Emmanuel Macron attends a news conference with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
President Donald Trump arrives on Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)
