playMichael DiRoccoOct 18, 2026, 03:21 PM ETCloseMichael DiRocco is an NFL Nation reporter at ESPN and covers the Jacksonville Jaguars. He previously covered the University of Florida for over a decade for ESPN and the Florida Times-Union. DiRocco graduated from Jacksonville University and is a multiple APSE award winner.Multiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsLONDON — Travis Hunter had a historic day in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 34-31 loss to the Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium. There may be a lot more of those coming.Hunter caught four passes for 59 yards and a touchdown and intercepted C.J.
Stroud in the end zone to thwart a Texans drive, making him just the fourth player since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger with a receiving touchdown and interception in the same game and the first to do it since Philadelphia’s Brian Dawkins in 2002.”I’ve been doing this since I was a baby — doing those type of things,” Hunter said. “We’ve just got to come out with the win is really my main focus.”Hunter was one of the main reasons the Jaguars (4-2) were in position to beat the Texans (2-4). Hunter’s 7-yard touchdown catch with 11:26 to play cut the Texans’ lead to 31-28 and his end zone interception of Stroud’s pass intended for Xavier Hutchinson on the Texans’ ensuing drive led to Cam Little’s 60-yard game-tying field goal with 1:55 to play.Hunter also had a 26-yard catch-and-run on the drive that ended with his touchdown catch — which was the second of his career and first since last year’s game against the Los Angeles Rams at Wembley Stadium — and per ESPN Research allowed only two catches for five yards in 34 coverage snaps, including 16 against Nico Collins.”[Hunter] made some critical plays for us on both sides of the football,” head coach Liam Coen said. “…
We’ve got to continue to get him the ball and keep building off of it and making sure it fits within the rhythm and flow of the game. But he definitely helped put us in a position to win that game today.”Hunter’s nine offensive snaps were a season high but based on Coen’s comment that’s a number that could grow significantly after the Jaguars come back from their bye.”Hopefully,” Hunter said. “Just going over the plan with coach over this bye week is just the main focus for me and just continue to do [what they ask] and whenever he calls my number [on offense], just go out there and shine.”He did that the last time he was a significant part of the Jaguars’ offense. The team made him the No. 1 receiver ahead of their Oct. 19 game against the Rams last season partly because of receiver Brian Thomas Jr.’s struggles (five drops) and wrist and shoulder injuries.
Hunter caught eight passes for 104 yards and a touchdown during the 35-7 loss.If Hunter’s role is going to increase going forward, though, it will have to be at the expense of another pass catcher and that’s likely to be Thomas. He had two drops in the first five weeks and had another Sunday in the first quarter as well as failing to grab a catchable pass late in the first half that would have put the Jaguars in position to attempt a long field goal.Thomas got benched at halftime, playing zero snaps in the second half after playing 15 in the first. When asked whether it would be hard for him to have confidence in Thomas moving forward, Coen replied: “Week to week. Guys have to step up and make plays.”Thomas declined to speak after the game, but Lawrence threw his support behind the third-year player.
“I think we just have to keep working, keep plugging away, keep finding opportunities to give him shots at the ball,” Lawrence said. “And I think for him, just keep playing and let the ball find you. Obviously, we need to get him involved more and we’re going to need him.”That may be tough to do if Hunter is going to be more involved offensively, and it sounds like that’s going to happen.”Was proud of the way [Hunter] competed,” Coen said. “[He] made some plays for us on offense and we’ve got to keep building off of it.”
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