Jaguars expand Travis Hunter’s role after historic Wembley game

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen signaled a permanent shift in how the team will deploy Travis Hunter after the two-way player became just the fifth athlete in the Super Bowl era to score a touchdown and record an interception in the same game. The Jaguars lost 34-31 to the Houston Texans on Sunday at Wembley Stadium, but the strategic pivot with their No. 2 overall pick from the 2025 NFL draft defined the afternoon.

Hunter had spent most of his second professional season lined up almost exclusively at cornerback. Coen broke that pattern against Houston. Hunter caught four passes for 59 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown reception from Trevor Lawrence in the fourth quarter that cut the deficit to 31-28. Minutes later, he picked off C.J. Stroud in the opposite end zone.

“That was part of the plan, getting him a little bit more involved early,” Coen said. “Got to keep building off of it.”

The decision carried immediate risk. Houston wide receiver Nico Collins beat Hunter on a stutter step early in the first quarter for a 42-yard gain down to the Jacksonville 9-yard line, setting up the Texans’ opening score. Hunter drew a pass interference penalty on Collins late in the first half, giving Houston first-and-goal from the 1. Foster Moreau scored on the next play for a 17-14 lead.

“My teammates came to me and just told me, after I gave up that deep ball, ‘Travis just go out there and be yourself, next-play mindset,'” Hunter said.

Cam Little connected on a 60-yard field goal following Hunter’s interception to tie the game at 31. Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 49-yard field goal as time expired to secure the win for Houston.

Lawrence finished 24 of 41 for 306 yards and four touchdowns. He threw one interception in the second quarter while targeting Jakobi Meyers in the back of the end zone.

“We don’t need to go soul-searching or anything like that,” Lawrence said. “It’s just how can we continue to do the little things better and better, because they cost you in these tight games.”

Hunter made three defenders miss on a 26-yard catch during the third quarter. He told coaches before his fourth-quarter scoring drive that he was ready whenever they needed him. Wembley remains a specific venue where his usage has accelerated; he scored his first NFL touchdown at the London stadium exactly one year prior.