Brian Thomas Jr.’s rough afternoon in London ended with a quieter second half than anyone expected, and the numbers from Sunday’s 34-31 Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans told the story fast.
The Jacksonville Jaguars receiver didn’t play a single snap after halftime, according to ESPN, and he was on the field for just 15 snaps overall, all of them in the first half. Thomas finished with two targets, no catches and a drop on a dig route past the sticks, a costly miss on a play where Trevor Lawrence’s throw wasn’t perfect and the field was wet.
That outing drew a sharp reaction from Dr. Jesse Morse on X. After posting a stat line for Travis Hunter, who had four catches on four targets for 59 yards and a touchdown at that point, Morse placed Thomas’ line - zero catches on two targets - right next to it.
"Have to imagine he's on his way out soon," the doctor wrote.
The workload was Thomas’ lightest of the season, and his production has sagged as the year has gone on. He now has nine receptions on 18 targets for 105 yards and a score. Five of those targets came in Weeks 4 and 5, and he came away empty in both games.
Meanwhile, the Jaguars’ passing picture continues to shift. Hunter’s snaps increased against Houston, rookie Josh Cameron is seeing more work, and Jacksonville, now 4-2, has leaned into two-tight-end formations.
Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington are leading the receiver room. The team has reportedly closed the door on trading Thomas.
There’s also a wider market angle around receiver help, with the Kansas City Chiefs dealing with injuries at the position. Tyquan Thornton is out at least three months after a dislocated ankle, and Rashee Rice was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers with a hamstring issue after sitting out practice all week. Brett Veach had already been looking into adding a receiver before those setbacks.
The Texans also paid a hefty price, sending a second-round pick for Marvin Harrison Jr., a move many around the league saw as steep. Kansas City, for its part, brought back Justin Watson, 30, this past week, though he profiles as depth.
Thomas’ 2024 season looked very different. He piled up nearly 1,300 yards on almost 90 catches, scored 10 touchdowns, earned a Pro Bowl nod and finished fourth in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.
In Other News...
Jaguars Still Lead The South But This Loss Exposed A Bigger Problem
The Jaguars still sit atop the AFC South, but the narrow Week 6 loss to Houston felt bigger than a one-game setback. Jacksonville got a spark from Travis Hunter, who made his presence felt on both sides of the ball with a touchdown catch and an interception, yet it still wasnt enough to offset a Texans team that kept finding answers all afternoon.
Houston piled up more than 400 yards and ultimately won it with a last-second field goal, exposing how much pressure the Jaguars are under to clean up their defensive play. In a division race where every slip can matter later, Jacksonville can point to the standings for comfort, but the performance against the Texans offered a reminder that leading the South does not mean the roster is playing like a finished product. [Read more 🡒]
Marvin Harrison Jr. Gives Texans Fans A Reason To Watch Sunday Closely
The Jaguars trip to London will come with an extra layer of intrigue, thanks to Marvin Harrison Jr. making his debut for the Houston Texans in the matchup Sunday morning. Houston acquired Harrison in a recent trade with the Arizona Cardinals, and the timing sets up an immediate spotlight game against a Jacksonville team that is always looking to control the AFC South picture on the other side of the pond.
Harrison also reunites with quarterback C.J. Stroud, his former Ohio State teammate, which gives the Texans another storyline to monitor beyond the usual international-game backdrop. Kickoff is set for Sunday, Oct. 18, at 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network, and while Jacksonville has its own business to handle, there will be plenty of eyes on how quickly Houston can fold its newest playmaker into the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Rookie Decision Suddenly Puts More Pressure On Secondary Against Houston
The Jaguars Week 6 inactives list brought a quick reset in the defensive backfield, with rookies Jalen Huskey, CJ Williams, Wesley Williams and Albert Regis all sitting out against the Texans. Huskey had just gotten his first NFL action last week when injuries thinned the safety group, but with other safeties back in the mix, Jacksonville opted to go in a different direction for a divisional matchup that already carried plenty of stress for the secondary.
Montaric Browns absence only adds to the challenge. The cornerback is inactive because of a hamstring injury, leaving Jacksonville with less margin for error against Houstons passing game and forcing the defense to absorb another shuffling of personnel in a game where communication and depth matter as much as ever. [Read more 🡒]