The Jacksonville Jaguars narrowly escaped Week 3 with a win over the Houston Texans, a major division rival, a game in which the Jaguars were looking to make a big statement. It wasn't quite the statement the Jaguars were likely hoping to make, but a win is a win, and that's what Jaguars fans got.
One notable development in Week 2 was that Brian Thomas Jr., one of the best wide receivers in the league last season, and was almost certainly one of the best rookies - but he has seemingly been regressing through 2025. He had evidently been dealing with a wrist injury, and with his subpar performance, fans were likely relieved that there was an excuse.
After all, the dreaded sophomore slump is something every fan wants to avoid from their star rookies. Week 3 was Thomas' chance to rebound from a slow start to the 2025 season, but it appeared to be (disappointing) business as usual - until a perfect catch came just in time.
Brian Thomas Jr. came through when it mattered
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence had been struggling to find the chemistry with his receivers throughout the entire game, with drops and missed passes left and right. Thomas was, again, having issues and had largely been a non-factor.
Until the fourth quarter, anyway, at the most crucial moment of the game.
Zoomin’@BrianThomas_11 | #JAXvsHOU on CBSpic.twitter.com/AkJScQeBhe
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) September 21, 2025
Houston had come back to tie the game, and with only two minutes left, the Jaguars offense was driving down the field. And in an incredible play, Lawrence connected with Thomas for a 46-yard play that set up the Jaguars for an easy touchdown - and the win.
"I mean, I thought it was trending. You know, early on, he goes up on the fade and makes a great effort. And you're like, dang, okay, you didn't come down with it. But man, it looks like it's obviously trending," Thomas said after the game. "And then I thought when we had the third, I think it was like 14, where we had the illegal shift, where you illegal shift, where he caught, he had a good, big, big time catch, I think that would have got him going. Just talk to him in the locker room, really proud of the way that he finished. That was a huge play and a big-time moment. So we got to get it cleaned up, but you should absolutely take confidence from that play and be able to continue to go forward."
It was exactly the kind of play needed to reinvigorate Thomas' season, and prove that even when he's struggling, he can still be a game-changer.