Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk was involved in trade rumors ahead of the NFL‘s trade deadline on Nov. 5. Yet the veteran wideout suffered an injury in Week 8 and was no longer available for trade.
What happened to Kirk, and what is his status moving forward? Here’s the latest.
What Is Christian Kirk’s Injury?
Kirk lept into the air and fully extended his arms in an attempt to haul in a third-down target from Trevor Lawrence. He landed hard on the ground and was forced to leave Jacksonville’s game against the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 27.
After leaving the game, Kirk bypassed the blue medical tent on Jacksonville’s sideline and went directly into the Jaguars’ locker room.
Christian Kirk holding his arm after this play. pic.twitter.com/M8KDKNzDac
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) October 27, 2024
The Jaguars ruled Kirk out almost immediately with a shoulder injury. While Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson didn’t offer an update on Kirk’s status during his postgame press conference, Jacksonville’s starting tight end Evan Engram offered his thoughts.
“He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had, ever been around, one of the smartest players I’ve been around. One of the best leaders I’ve been around,” Engram said, according to Juston Lewis of The Florida Times-Union.
“You saw him cut up today too, he was rolling, he was getting going. Just a very unfortunate event.”
When Will Kirk Return From Injury?
Unfortunately, Kirk suffered a broken collarbone and will miss the rest of the 2024 campaign, according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Kirk caught two passes for 59 yards before departing in Week 8. He entered Sunday’s game with 25 catches on 45 targets for 320 yards and one touchdown.
Kirk’s injury was part of a recent spate of ailments for the Jaguars’ offense. Gabe Davis was injured the same week and missed a game, while Brian Thomas Jr. also suffered a chest injury versus Green Bay (though he played through his injury).
The biggest blow came the following week, when Lawrence suffered a left shoulder injury that reportedly has him considering all options, including surgery. The two-win Jaguars are already out of contention for anything except a top-five draft pick, but a long-term absence from Lawrence would seal the deal.
SEE MORE: NFL Injury Report
Kirk was poised to be among the most attractive wide receivers remaining on the trading block after Davante Adams, Amari Cooper, and DeAndre Hopkins changed teams. His injury was poorly timed in that regard, robbing the Jaguars of the opportunity to move him for trade capital to expedite their rebuild.
Kirk posted 84 catches for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns for Jacksonville in 2022 and was on a similar pace in 2023 before suffering a season-ending groin injury in Week 13. The Jaguars went 1-4 down the stretch without him, a collapse that saw them miss the playoffs.
The 27-year-old inked a four-year, $72 million free agent deal with the Jaguars in 2022 after spending four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He’s due a $15.5 million, non-guaranteed base salary in 2025. Jacksonville could release Kirk next offseason while clearing $10.7 million in salary cap space.
How Has Kirk’s Absence Impacted the Jacksonville Jaguars?
Jacksonville’s offense has struggled mightily following Kirk’s injury. The Jaguars have lost three consecutive games without Kirk and have scored just 12.0 points per game during his absence.
Jaguars rookie wide receiver Thomas has battled through a chest injury to remain on the field for Jacksonville. Yet it hasn’t been enough for the Jaguars to find success on offense, especially given the absence of starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Thomas has hauled in just nine receptions for 116 yards in Jacksonville’s last three games without Kirk. Engram continues to be the primary target for Jacksonville’s uninspiring passing attack, as the veteran tight end has 16 receptions for 113 yards during Kirk’s absence.
Second-year wide receiver Parker Washington showed flashes against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9, though it wasn’t enough to lead the Jaguars to victory. Washington hauled in three receptions for 40 yards against a dominant Eagles’ defense, although he has failed to match that production in Jacksonville’s last two games.