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Washington strikes in England: Jacksonville Jaguars returner electrifies with record TD
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- Washington strikes in England: Jacksonville Jaguars returner electrifies with record TD
A Washington made history in England.
Not George. Parker.
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver/returner Parker Washington completed a 22-point second quarter against the New England Patriots on Sunday at London's Wembley Stadium with a franchise-record 96-yard punt return for a touchdown with 1:34 left in the second quarter to give the Jaguars a 22-10 lead.
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The Jags went on to win 32-16 to improve to 2-5 for the season.
Washington gathered Bryce Baringer 's booming 66-yard punt on the Jaguars' 4 but it was a classic case of out-kicking the coverage. Washington, who has been the primary punt returner since Devin Duvernay was injured, raced past the initial wave of coverage players, broke to the left sideline and easily scored, capping the run with a backward dive into the end zone.
Parker Washington had mentally rehearsed his dive
Washington said he discussed with family members the day before what kind of celebration he might do if he scored a touchdown by any means in the game.
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"It was a special moment to see it happen in real-time, to speak it into existence," he said during his post-game news conference. "It goes back to your mentality. Keep going. I had to step up when Devin went down."
Parker Washington of the Jacksonville Jaguars beats New England punter Bryce Baringer on his way to a 96-yard punt return for a touchdown on Oct. 20 against the New England Patriots at London's Wembley Stadium.
He also said that after racing to midfield untouched, he wasn't about to let the punter tackle him.
"I had to trust my speed and run through him or right around him," Washington said.
Parker Washington beat long odds to score
It was not only a Jaguar record but it was the first punt return for a score in NFL International games. According to NFL NextGen stats, there is a 0.07 percent probability of returning punts fielded inside the 5-yard line for touchdowns.
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Washington broke Keelan's Cole's record of a 91-yard punt return in 2020 against Green Bay, a 24-20 loss . It was the ninth punt return for a touchdown in team history and the first special-teams touchdown for the Jaguars this season.
The last special-teams score for the Jaguars was a 102-yard kickoff return by Jamal Agnew in 2021 against Denver .
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars comeback highlighted by Parker Washington record TD
