The Jacksonville Jaguars left London with a 34-31 Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans, dropping to 4-2 on the season. Even so, Travis Hunter walked away with a rare slice of NFL history after putting his two-way skill set on full display in the second half.
Hunter scored a receiving touchdown and added an interception, making him just the third player in league history to catch a touchdown and pick off the opposing quarterback in the same game, according to PFF. The 23-year-old joins Philadelphia Eagles legend Brian Dawkins and wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson on that short list, and he’s the first player to do it in 24 years.
Dawkins did it for the Eagles in 2002. Johnson turned the trick during the 1999 playoffs with the New York Jets.
For the day, Hunter finished with four catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. He also showed what he can do once the ball is in his hands, shaking multiple Texans defenders on a play that closed the third quarter. Then in the fourth, he came up with the interception that kept Houston from moving two scores ahead late.
It wasn’t enough to save Jacksonville from the loss, but it may have given the coaching staff something to think about. After what Hunter did against the Texans, the Jaguars could have a strong case to get him more involved on offense.
Jacksonville now heads into a Week 7 bye with extra time to sort out how to use Hunter even more. The Jaguars return in Week 8 with a home game against the Indianapolis Colts.
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 🡒]
Texans Win Put Jaguars Wideout Problem Under A Bigger Spotlight
Brian Thomas Jr.s afternoon in Houston ended long before the final whistle, and that only sharpened the conversation around Jacksonvilles passing game. The second-year wideout did not play a snap after halftime in the Week 6 loss to the Texans, finishing with two targets and no catches as his recent usage continued to trend downward. With other receivers taking on bigger roles, Thomas has become part of a broader discussion about how the Jaguars are distributing the ball and what that means for one of their most talented pass catchers.
Around the league, there is already speculation that Thomas could become a name to watch if Jacksonville ever decides to listen on a potential move. The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly looking at receiver help because of injuries, which has added another layer to the chatter, but the Jaguars are still dealing with a more immediate issue at home: how to get a once-central piece of their offense back into the mix without disrupting the rest of the group. [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 🡒]