Travis Hunter absolutely went off for the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday against the Houston Texans, finally delivering the jaw-dropping, two-way production they dreamed about! The second-year CB/WR actually made history in Week 6, snagging an interception AND a receiving touchdown in the same game. This was the kind of game-changing impact Jacksonville envisioned for Hunter, even if they couldn’t pull out the win in London.
A Week 6 Showdown That Made History
The game itself was a nail-biter, with the Jaguars falling 34-31 to a buzzer-beating field goal from the Texans. But Hunter’s individual performance was the real story. He started the game at cornerback, laying the groundwork for his defensive presence. Then, at wide receiver, he caught all four of his targets for 59 yards, including a huge seven-yard touchdown that cut the Texans’ lead to 31-28 with just 11:26 left on the clock. You’d think that was enough, right? Nope. On the very next Texans’ drive after his touchdown, Hunter went full beast mode, picking off Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud in the end zone for a crucial stop. Talk about a momentum swing! That was Stroud’s first interception of the entire 2026 season, and it allowed the Jaguars to tie the game at 31 with 1:55 to play. This wasn’t just a great game for Hunter, either. He became the first player with a receiving touchdown and an interception in the same game since Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins did it way back in 2002, also against the Texans. This is only the fourth time a player has ever produced a receiving touchdown and an interception in the same game (including playoffs) since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger. That’s some elite company right there.
The Price Tag, the Injury, and the Payoff
This kind of performance is exactly why the Jaguars made such a heavy investment in Hunter. They traded up to select the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner second overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, giving up their 2025 fifth overall pick, a 2025 second-round pick (No. 36), a 2025 fourth-round pick (No. 126), and a 2026 first-round pick to the Cleveland Browns. That’s a haul! They also got a 2025 fourth-round pick (No. 104) and a 2025 sixth-round pick (No. 200) in return, but the capital spent was massive. His rookie year in 2025 was cut short at the end of October by a torn LCL, so fans didn’t get to see his full skillset. He profiled as a full-time wide receiver moonlighting at cornerback that season, with around two-thirds of his 459 total snaps on offense. He still racked up 298 receiving yards and a touchdown with 28 catches and 15 total tackles in seven games. But in 2026? It’s been a clear shift. Hunter has transitioned to full-time cornerback, with wide receiver as his “side hustle.” This new deployment clearly unlocked something special, and Sunday proved he can dominate on both sides of the ball when it matters most.
This historic performance undoubtedly justifies the Jaguars’ massive draft day gamble on Travis Hunter. Seeing him finally hit his stride and showcase that tantalizing two-way potential after last year’s injury has to make Jaguars fans incredibly excited. This is just the beginning of what he can do!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply