The Jacksonville Jaguars rarely fail to deliver a spectacular storyline on their annual trip to England. It became an implicit promise from home to home. This year is no different. This is probably the most exciting year yet.
First there was Trevor Lawrence, a first-generation quarterback prospect who has been accustomed to the unwavering NFL spotlight since he was a teenager and shines the same light as the Peyton Mannings and Andrew Lucks of this world. Celebrating Kirby Smart’s success at the heart of Georgia’s defense was Trayvon Walker, the Rubik’s Cube defensive lineman who achieved a surprising late surge to the top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft through his selfless disruption in teeing up teammates and influence on reads between the lines.
This year, Travis Hunter, the second overall pick in the draft, is a two-position wide receiver/defensive back phenom who is trying to break convention as a talent rather than a modern blueprint.
The NFL will celebrate its 42nd game in London since 2007 when the Jaguars face the Los Angeles Rams at Wembley on Sunday. A lot of British fans saw it. They have never seen Travis Hunter.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights from Week 5 between the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Director Liam Coen believes his unique and unprecedented usage is a welcome change to his profession.
“That’s a lot of the reasons you coach, take on challenges and try to overcome challenges, and Travis is no different,” Coen said.
“We had a schedule all the way from the beginning until we flew out here on Monday night. We were sitting on the plane looking at tweaking the schedule that we might make this week. So it’s day to day.
“This is a big challenge for us. In terms of scheduling, everyone has to really focus on the job. When you work with a guy who loves football and loves his job, he loves playing, he loves playing the game and he really wants to help those guys.
“And that’s ultimately someone who will continue to get better every week. It’s been a fun challenge so far.”
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sky Sports NFL’s Ndamukong Suh and Phoebe Schecter discuss whether we should expect more from Jacksonville Jaguar QB Trevor Lawrence.
Hunter entered the NFL as one of the most interesting case studies in recent history this year when the Jaguars traded to draft the Heisman Trophy winner second overall.
He rocked the college football world as the No. 1 recruit in his class coming out of high school when he committed to Jackson University, becoming the first five-star prospect to sign with an HBCU or FBS program.
Hunter later followed head coach Deion Sanders to Colorado, where his two-way impact skyrocketed in NFL store windows as he played 713 offensive snaps and 748 defensive snaps last season. In a full-time role on both sides of the ball in 2024, he has 96 catches for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns, 32 tackles, four interceptions and 11 pass breakups.
Both player and team will be united on draft night with the intention of maintaining his two-position placement in the NFL. As Hunter and Coen continued to perfect their plan, Hunter’s initial influence was minimal, but they both knew it was coming.
“It’s very important to be patient,” Hunter said. “I have to let the game come to me, the coach is trying to do some things for me. I have to keep working and make sure the players trust me because I’m doing my job every time. I just have to keep doing my job.
“This is a team sport. Don’t be selfish, just keep being a team, be consistent and win the game.”
There is no real notable test subject from which to draw inspiration for Hunter’s conversion. Hall of Famer Chuck Bednarik remains the NFL’s most recent full-time two-way player after playing both linebacker and center for the first eight seasons of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1949 to 1962.
Not only did Hunter play 58 of a season-high 74 snaps on offense, but he also had the highest route share in Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks and featured just 22 defensive snaps. With that said, he had four catches for 15 yards, a season low. Before that, he played 39 offensive snaps and 25 defensive snaps in a Week 5 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, during which he made a 44-yard leaping catch between two defenders in the middle of the field for the biggest flash moment in the NFL.
With a high ceiling, expectations are high that Hunter will land a prominent role. Especially with No. 1 receiver Brian Thomas Jr contributing just 24 catches for 334 yards and a touchdown amid a slow start to the campaign.
It was a gradual balancing act, as he played more defensive than offensive snaps in Weeks 2 and 3 before going on to play 38 offensive snaps to 9 defensive snaps in a Week 4 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
“He’s a great corner and a great receiver,” said quarterback Lawrence.
“And trying to find the right way to use him, I think that’s something we’re always looking for every week. Sometimes it might look different, sometimes we might not give him as many touches as we would have liked or planned, the game just plays out a little bit differently. That’s football.
“But it’s definitely something we’re constantly trying to do, because we’ve all seen how special he is.
“And when he gets a chance down the field or gets the ball down there and makes people miss and can turn a 5-yard pass into a 25-yard gain, because he’s very good at getting the ball in his hands.”
Hunter entered Sunday with 20 catches on 31 targets for 197 yards at 9.9 yards per catch, while recording 15 tackles and two pass breakups on defense.
Coen recalled preparing for a Week 5 win over Kansas City when Lawrence and Hunter were trying to strengthen their field understanding by working on throws they actually missed. The two rehearsed five times until they finally succeeded.
“Then Travis came to life on a catch he jumped in the air against Kansas,” Coen said. “So I hope that connection continues to strengthen.
“I think Trevor is a unique leader because he can give great insight to a young person. He is mature beyond his years in many ways. Sometimes I feel like he is a little more mature than me.
“The relationship is getting better.”
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Lawrence scores a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs.
It feels like there are signs of Hunter breaking through in the NFL. Even for a unicorn like that, the explosion couldn’t have happened overnight.
The complexity of his talent is becoming increasingly evident. He is exquisite at route breaking and feints, and attacks the ball with aggression and great instincts in dynamic and competitive duel situations after the catch. On defense, he poses a constant turnover threat with his elite play and route diagnosis.
“He was fun to be around,” Lawrence said. “It’s a unique personality and the energy he brings to the team.
“I don’t think he needs much help in terms of his mindset or his attitude. I think he’s doing things in the right direction. He wants to get better. He wants to learn.”
“But as far as the football aspect, the mental aspect, I’ve seen the ball a lot at this point. I’m throwing the ball to him and we have to be on the same page. I have a lot of conversations with him every week, every game plan. I’m trying to make the calls to make sure we’re on the same page and have that chemistry.”
“That’s very important for a quarterback wide receiver. I think he’s making great strides and I’m looking for more ways to keep him involved and get him the ball. He’s got so much talent. We’ve got to find a way to continue to feature him because he’s so good at getting the ball in his hands.”
Watch the Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Los Angeles Rams live on Sky Sports NFL from 2pm on Sunday with kick-off starting at 2.30pm.
Watch the 2025 NFL season live on Sky Sports, including every London and European game and every minute of the playoffs and Super Bowl LX. Access or stream Sky Sports with no contract.
