Photo via CBS Sports

Brian Thomas Jr. landing spots: Trade rumors hits fever pitch after WR did not play in second half vs. Texans

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans (34-31) at Wembley Stadium in London on October 18, 2026, marked a turning point in the team’s handling of first-round wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. After a dismal performance that included two missed targets in the first half—culminating in a dropped pass on the opening drive—Thomas Jr.

was benched for the entirety of the second half, logging just 15 snaps in the first half and zero in the second. The move came as rookie Travis Hunter stepped into the lineup, finishing with four catches for 59 yards and a touchdown, a production run that mirrored half of Thomas Jr.’s season-to-date totals (9 catches, 105 yards, one touchdown).

This was the second consecutive game Thomas Jr. went without a reception, totaling five targets across both contests, while Hunter’s emergence underscored the Jaguars’ shifting priorities in the receiving corps.

The Jaguars’ decision to bench Thomas Jr. reflected broader concerns about his consistency, particularly after a season in which he has failed to replicate his rookie-year form.

Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud threw three touchdown passes in the game, while Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn sealed the victory with a 49-yard field goal as time expired.

The loss followed the Jaguars entering the game at 3-3 on the season, and they entered a Week 7 bye with limited time to address their offensive struggles. Coach Liam Coen’s postgame remarks—‘Just week to week.

Week to week. Guys have to step up and make plays.’—highlighted the team’s focus on accountability, though they did not directly address Thomas Jr.’s future.

Thomas Jr.’s struggles have intensified trade speculation, despite Jacksonville general manager James Gladstone dismissing such rumors as ‘fraudulent’ in March 2026. The Jaguars’ decision to rely on Hunter and veteran receivers suggests a deliberate effort to reallocate resources, particularly as the team evaluates its roster during the bye week.

With no immediate games on the horizon, the focus now shifts to whether the Jaguars will pursue further adjustments to their receiving group before the Week 8 slate begins.

This report also draws on coverage from Pro Football Talk, Awful Announcing, Yahoo Sports, NFL.com.

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