Travis Hunter finally got the ball in his hands for the kind of moment defensive backs remember, and the Jaguars rookie said the satisfaction came with a clear catch: the result mattered more than the stat.
Hunter picked off Drake Maye for the first interception of his career in Jacksonville’s win over the Patriots, a play that came in his second season and during a game in which the Jaguars’ defense overwhelmed New England. Afterward, Hunter said the takeaway was nice, but it wasn’t what he was chasing.
“A little bit,” Hunter said. “Interceptions are great to catch, but I was focused on winning the game and just continue to focus on the next play.”
In Houston, Will Anderson Jr. kept wrecking drives even though the Texans still came up short, and C.J. Stroud made it clear the edge rusher’s energy hasn’t gone unnoticed. Anderson finished Week 3 with 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in the Texans’ 19-17 loss to the Colts, and Stroud said the defender’s message in the locker room helped spark the team.
“Yeah, he’s a baller bro. Like the dude is legit,” Stroud said, via the Texans Wire.
“He came in the locker room during halftime and told us, ‘Whatever we got to do man, do it.’ And he was the person to kick it off.
And then from there, we started moving the ball. Had that touchdown drive, but just I think we just got to finish better.
But I think he set the tone. Offensively, we’ve got to follow that motto.
Just like we can’t just play conservative. We’ve got to be aggressive and attack, and not be the attacked.
So, I think we’ll look at it and be better.”
Stroud also pointed to the Texans’ tight end group, saying they’ve helped in the run game and can still grow into a bigger role as the offense finds its rhythm.
“Yeah, they’re doing a great job communicating, giving us a chance in the run game, but also being options in the pass game. So, I think that we’ll be able to use them more and more as we continue to go, but they’re doing a great job I believe as a whole - just the whole room is doing good.”
Houston’s 0-3 start has already brought questions, but DeMeco Ryans said he isn’t looking to make a change at offensive coordinator. Asked whether he would consider replacing Nick Caley, Ryans kept it simple: “Nope, we’re all in this thing together.”
In Tennessee, Robert Saleh said Cam Ward has to do a better job protecting the ball after the quarterback’s interception to Giants safety Jevon Holland ended the Titans’ Week 3 chances on Sunday.
In Other News...
Jaguars Could Catch Bengals At The Perfect Time In Week 4
Wednesdays injury report offered a little early-week clarity for Jacksonville, and the Jaguars seem to be moving in the right direction as they prepare for a Week 4 meeting with Cincinnati. Several Jaguars were listed as limited participants, but the overall picture points toward a team getting healthier at the right time, which matters with the schedule starting to tighten and every division game carrying extra weight.
Cincinnati, by contrast, left more questions hanging after practice. The Bengals are dealing with more uncertainty in the secondary and along the offensive line, two spots that can shape how a game is protected, covered and ultimately controlled. For Jacksonville, that makes this a notable week to watch, because the injury report alone could end up influencing how both teams build their plans. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Pressure Around Cam Ward Is Starting To Feel Different
The Titans early-season patience with Cam Ward is beginning to get a little more complicated, at least from the outside, as the offense continues to search for traction. The quarterback has been getting the kind of organizational backing that suggests Tennessee wants to let the process play out, even as the results have left plenty of room for questions about where this is headed and how long the margin for growth can last.
For the Jaguars, theres a familiar AFC South subplot in watching how divisional rivals handle their young quarterbacks and the pieces around them. Liam Coens explanation for Brian Thomas Jr.s limited Week 3 usage was a reminder that plans can look very different from game to game, and that the Jaguars are still trying to balance immediate results with long-term trust in one of their top playmakers. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Face A Week 4 Problem That Could Change Everything
Through three weeks, the Bengals have shown enough on defense to make opponents pay attention, and the attention in Jacksonville has to start up front. Cincinnatis offseason additions gave that defensive line more heft, and Anthony Cosenza of Cincy Jungle pointed to the strength there as a real factor heading into the matchup with the Jaguars. He also noted how the safety situation has been complicated by injuries, which makes the rest of the defense carry even more of the load.
For Jacksonville, the bigger question is how that front changes the script of the game and whether the Jaguars can keep their own offense on schedule against a group that is still settling into its identity. Cosenza also talked through what he has seen from Cincinnati so far and what he expects from the players in this one, while leaving little doubt that the defensive tone could shape how the game unfolds. There is still plenty to sort out, but the matchup already feels like one where the trenches will matter first. [Read more 🡒]