The San Francisco 49ers will catch their first glimpse of one of the NFL's most unique young players when they host the 2-1 Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4, wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, the No. 2 overall selection from last April's draft.
Rare is the breed of player who doubles on both offense and defense into the collegiate ranks, but the 2024 Heisman Trophy recipient did just that before going pro and landing with the Jags, fully intending to continue his both-sides-of-the-ball ways.
Fortunately, at least for the Niners, Hunter has yet to showcase one of those true breakout games that justify him being a top-two pick.
And San Francisco wants to ensure the rookie's first impact-type of game doesn't happen this weekend.
49ers want nothing more than to delay Travis Hunter's 1st breakout game
Despite the unusual showcase of doubling on both offense and defense, Hunter has yet to have one of those signature games and/or moments that reveal he'll be one of the NFL's budding young stars.
On the offensive side of the ball, the wide receiver version of Hunter has just 10 receptions for 76 yards, and six of those grabs came in Jacksonville's Week 3 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Crossing over to the defense, Hunter has given up five completions on eight targets for 74 yards while allowing opposing quarterbacks to post a 92.7 passer rating when targeting him.
Definitely not horrible numbers for a first-year pro with only three games under his belt, but they're not jaw-dropping either.
"He looks really good," defensive coordinator Robert Saleh told reporters on Thursday. "Like I said, he’s got all the talent in the world. Like all rookies, there’s a learning curve. But, there’s no question that when you watch the tape he’s someone that once he gets into his groove, he’s going to take off."
Granted, San Francisco has enough problems of its own to worry whether or not Hunter will put the red and gold on a poster or post-Week 4 highlight reel. Defensive end Nick Bosa is out for the season with an ACL tear, and the 49ers have had to juggle their own quarterback and wide receiver rooms aplenty over the first three weeks.
Still, Hunter's name alone commands attention, and the last thing the Niners want is for the multifaceted rookie is to begin making a bigger name for himself by going off when the two teams battle it out at Levi's Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 4:05 p.m. ET.