Travis Hunter did something on Sunday that no NFL player had managed in more than two decades: he caught a touchdown pass and intercepted a pass in the same game, both in the final quarter at Wembley Stadium. It was not enough for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who lost 34-31 to the Houston Texans on Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 49-yard field goal as time expired on Sunday, October 18.
The last player to put both plays in one box score did it in 2002. Hunter, the second overall pick in 2025, treated the feat as nothing new when he spoke after the game. “I’ve been doing this stuff since I was a baby,” he said, before steering the conversation back to the scoreboard: “We just have to come out with a win.”
HC Liam Coen, QB Trevor Lawrence, RB Bhayshul Tuten and WR/CB Travis Hunter speak to the media. #DUUUVAL https://t.co/F1xbUuOyEs
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 18, 2026
Back-to-back series that nearly saved the day
Jacksonville trailed 31-21 entering the fourth quarter. Hunter carried most of the next drive himself, with three receptions for 40 yards, and finished it by catching a 7-yard throw from Trevor Lawrence with 11:26 to play. That cut Houston’s lead to three.
On the following Texans possession he switched sides. Houston had reached second-and-goal at the Jacksonville 4 with 3:53 left when C.J. Stroud tried to fit a ball into the end zone, and Hunter came down with it. It was the first interception Stroud had thrown all season, ending a run of 216 attempts that had already set a Texans record for a clean start. Cam Little then tied the game at 31 from 60 yards out, leaving 1:55 on the clock, before Stroud drove Houston into range for Fairbairn’s winner.
Hunter finished with four catches for 59 yards and the touchdown on offense, plus the interception, another pass defended and three tackles on defense. It was his most productive day as a receiver this season. Coach Liam Coen said afterward that getting him more involved early on offense had been part of the plan, and he credited Hunter with key plays on both sides of the ball.
"He made some critical plays for us on both sides of the football. Obviously had the interception late that gave us a chance to win the game."
Coach Coen on Travis Hunter. pic.twitter.com/f3yaeI2Aq5
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 18, 2026
The costly moments, too
The afternoon was not spotless. Hunter was flagged for pass interference in the red zone in the final seconds of the first half, which set up Stroud’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Foster Moreau and a 17-14 Houston lead at the break. On the first Texans drive of the third quarter he did not get off the field before a punt, and the too-many-men penalty handed Houston a new set of downs; the drive ended in Jaylin Noel’s 13-yard touchdown. Earlier, his 19-yard catch had set up first-and-goal at the 4 before Bhayshul Tuten’s 2-yard touchdown just before halftime.
A bigger role after a lost rookie year
Hunter missed the last 10 games of his rookie season with a knee injury and opened 2026 working mostly at cornerback. Sunday was the clearest sign yet that Jacksonville is ready to lean on him as a receiver too.
The loss left the Jaguars at 4-2, still two games clear of the 2-4 Texans in the AFC South. Full numbers are on the Texans vs. Jaguars Game Center.
What comes next
Jacksonville is off next weekend. Its next game is against the Indianapolis Colts, kicking off at 1 p.m. EST on Sunday, November 1. More on the club: Jacksonville Jaguars team page.
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