Kirk (collarbone) figures to spend a lot of time in the slot after Houston drafted 6-foot-4 wideout Jayden Higgins at No. 34 overall, The Athletic reports.
Kirk might've taken most of his snaps in the slot anyway, so it's hard to spin the NFL Draft as a win for his fantasy value, especially after the Texans doubled down on Iowa State receivers and took Jaylin Noel in the third round. There's suddenly a lot of target competition behind No. 1 receiver Nico Collins, who averaged 83.8 yards and 8.3 targets per game in 2024 despite playing less than half the available snaps in three of his 12 regular-season games. The upside scenario for Kirk's volume entails Collins continuing to struggle with soft-issue injuries while the rookies fail to develop as expected. The downside scenario features Kirk becoming somewhat of an afterthought and perhaps even losing slot snaps to Noel eventually. Kirk has one year left on his contract and should be healthy for training camp, after a broken collarbone ended his final season with the Jaguars (who subsequently traded him to Houston for a seventh-round pick). The Texans already restructured Kirk's contract to convert his non-guaranteed salary into a guaranteed bonus, which rules out any chance of him being released before Week 1.
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Texans' Christian Kirk: Reworks contract
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Kirk (collarbone) agreed earlier this month to restructure his contract for the 2025 season, with the Texans opting to convert $14.245 million of his salary into a signing bonus, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Kirk, who is entering the final season of the four-year, $72 million contract he signed with Jacksonville in 2022, was acquired by the Texans on March 6 in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick. The Texans' willingness to take on the remaining money on his deal was likely a major factor in the low compensation the Jaguars received in return, but Houston was at least able to restructure the contract to make it more palatable for salary-cap purposes. Between his salary and signing bonus, Kirk will earn $16.5 million in 2025, with the potential to earn an additional $3 million if he reaches unspecified catches and receiving yardage incentives. With Tank Dell's (knee) availability for the upcoming season in doubt, Kirk is projected to head into training camp as Houston's No. 2 wideout behind Nico Collins. Prior to suffering a season-ending fractured collarbone in Week 8, Kirk was supplanted by Brian Thomas as the top option in the Jacksonville passing game and finished with a 27-379-1 line on 47 targets.
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Texans' Christian Kirk: Being dealt to Houston
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The Jaguars are finalizing a trade Thursday that will send Kirk (collarbone) to the Texans, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Kirk, who is recovering from a broken left collarbone suffered in late October, looks set to join Nico Collins atop Houston's wide receiver depth chart. The veteran slot man will face opportunity as one of C.J. Stroud's top targets, especially with Stefon Diggs (knee - ACL) a pending free agent and Tank Dell (knee - ACL) a candidate to miss much, if not all, of the 2025 season. Per Pelissero, the Texans are taking on Kirk's salary of $16.5 million for 2025 and sending a 2026 seventh-round pick to Jacksonville in exchange for the 28-year-old veteran wideout.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: Slated for release
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The Jaguars plan to release Kirk (collarbone) when the new league year begins next Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Kirk's release will save Jacksonville over $10.4 million in cap space, per Schefter. The 28-year-old has one season remaining on his four-year, $72 million deal with the Jaguars, but his disappointing 2024 campaign along with the emergence of Brian Thomas as a clear No. 1 wideout provides enough motivation for the team to move on from Kirk. A broken left collarbone sustained in late October forced Kirk to miss the final nine games of the season, with the wideout finishing with 27 catches for 379 yards and a touchdown on 47 targets over his eight appearances. If healthy, Kirk should have no issue drawing attention as a free agent from multiple suitors in need of a capable veteran receiver.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: Candidate to be released
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Kirk (collarbone) may be released this offseason, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano.
Kirk has one season remaining on a four-year, $72 million contract and is scheduled for up to 16.5 million in non-guaranteed compensation. He's mostly lived up to a contract that was widely criticized as an overpay at the time of signing, but that doesn't necessarily mean the Jaguars will keep him, as he's 28 years old and coming off a disappointing 2024 season in which he suffered a broken collarbone, while rookie Brian Thomas emerged as the team's clear No. 1 receiver. Gabe Davis had a worse season than Kirk and suffered an injury (a meniscus tear) that comes with more long-term concern, but Davis has full guarantees on his contract for 2025, leaving the Jaguars with no financial incentive to release him.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: Moves to injured reserve
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The Jaguars placed Kirk (collarbone) on injured reserve Saturday.
Kirk already has been ruled out for the season following the broken left collarbone that he suffered last Sunday against the Packers, so this transaction is merely a procedural move. He'll join fellow WRs Devin Duvernay (lower body) and David White (knee) on IR, while Brian Thomas (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder) are questionable for Sunday's game at Philadelphia, and Parker Washington, Tim Jones and practice-squad elevations Elijah Cooks and Austin Trammell are the healthy options at the position for Week 9.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: Out for season with collarbone injury
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Kirk fractured his collarbone in Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Packers and will miss the remainder of the season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Kirk had his left arm in a sling after the game after exiting in the second half with what the Jaguars originally termed a shoulder injury, but it turned out to be a fractured collarbone. He will finish the 2024 season with 27 catches for 379 yards and one touchdown on 47 targets in eight games. More opportunities will likely open up for Parker Washington in a Jacksonville wide receiver room that also saw Brian Thomas (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder) made early exits in Week 8.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: Arm in sling after game
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Kirk's left arm was in a sling after Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Packers, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports.
After exiting with a shoulder injury, the wideout was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the contest, and given DiRocco's report, Kirk's status for next weekend's game against the Eagles is cloudy. Fellow WRs Brian Thomas (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder) also were injured versus Green Bay, with the trio's status now worth tracking closely in the coming days.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: Leaves early with shoulder injury
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Kirk suffered an injury to his left shoulder with 13:24 remaining in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Packers and has been ruled out for the remainder of the contest, John Oehser of the Jaguars' official site reports. He recorded two catches for 59 yards on five targets prior to departing.
Jacksonville had its top three receivers leave the Week 8 contest early, though Brian Thomas (chest) and Gabe Davis (shoulder) were listed as questionable to return after suffering their respective injuries. The team didn't waste any time ruling out Kirk, who immediately headed to the locker room after landing hard on his left arm while attempting to reel in a deep target from quarterback Trevor Lawrence on 3rd-and-11. The Jaguars will likely provide an update on Kirk's condition after the game concludes, but for now, the wideout's status for a Week 9 matchup with the Eagles is in question.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: WRs to Sit
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In the past two games with Evan Engram back for the Jaguars following a four-game absence with a hamstring injury, Kirk has combined for four catches for 63 yards and no touchdowns on nine targets. Prior to that, Kirk had scored at least 12.8 PPR points in three games in a row. The Packers have locked down the Cardinals and Texans receivers in the past two games, and I would only use Kirk in three-receive leagues in Week 8. Despite the tough matchup, Brian Thomas Jr. should remain a starter in all leagues. He has scored at least 21.9 PPR points in three of his past four games.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: Chunk gain on one catch
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Kirk brought in one of three targets for 24 yards in the Jaguars' 32-16 win over the Patriots on Sunday in London.
Kirk made one of his signature chunk gains on his one reception, and although the modest target total was disappointing, the veteran wideout was partly a victim of circumstance. Trevor Lawrence put up only 20 pass attempts due to the way game script unfolded, helping lead to Kirk's third one-catch tally of the season. Kirk figures to have to be much more involved in a Week 8 home matchup against the Packers.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: WRs to Sit
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Evan Engram returned from his four-game absence with a hamstring injury in Week 6 against Chicago, and Kirk had just three catches for 39 yards on six targets. This is an easier matchup in Week 7 against New England, but I would only use Kirk in three-receiver leagues. Brian Thomas Jr. should get back on track against the Patriots, and it's doubtful Engram will have a reduced role. Kirk is the third option at best, and I'm not willing to trust him in most formats this week.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: Three catches in London defeat
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Kirk brought in three of six targets for 39 yards in the Jaguars' 35-16 loss to the Bears on Sunday in London.
Kirk finished third in receptions, receiving yards and targets for the Jaguars with his lowest totals in the first two categories since Week 2. The veteran wideout still drew an appreciable amount of Trevor Lawrence's attention, however, and Kirk certainly has the ability to bounce back against an inconsistent Patriots defense in a Week 7 matchup at Wembley Stadium.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: WRs to Sit
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Kirk has played well for the past three games against Buffalo, Houston and Indianapolis with at least 12.8 PPR points in each outing, but I expect him to struggle in Week 6 against the Bears in London. Chicago is No. 7 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and only Nico Collins in Week 2 has scored a touchdown against the Bears. And Evan Engram (hamstring) is expected to return in Week 6, which could mean fewer targets for Kirk and limit his upside. I would only start Kirk in three-receiver leagues this week.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: Strong yardage output in win
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Kirk brought in all four targets for 88 yards in the Jaguars' 37-34 win over the Colts on Sunday.
Kirk finished with the second-highest receiving yardage total on the afternoon for Jacksonville with a figure that also served as a new season high. The veteran wideout has left a forgettable start to the season firmly in the dust, as he now boasts a 19-228-1 line over his last three games after recording only two receptions for 29 yards over the first two contests of the campaign. Kirk next takes aim at a tough Bears defense in a Week 6 matchup in London.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: Nabs first TD of 2024
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Kirk caught seven of 12 targets for 61 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 24-20 loss to the Texans.
The veteran wideout led the Jaguars in receptions and targets, although rookie Brian Thomas out-gained him by 25 receiving yards. Kirk has seen double-digit targets in back-to-back contests, and he appears to have re-asserted himself as Trevor Lawrence's most reliable downfield option, capping his performance Sunday with his first TD of the season on an eight-yard grab in the third quarter. Kirk will look to keep rolling in Week 5 against the Colts.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: Sleeper WRs
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Kirk ended his two-game slump in Week 3 at Buffalo with eight catches for 79 yards on 10 targets, and he did well against Houston last season. In two games against the Texans, Kirk had eight catches for 143 yards and a touchdown, and he scored at least 12.9 PPR points in each outing. Kirk should have the chance for another quality performance against Houston in Week 4, especially with Evan Engram (hamstring) again out. The Texans have already allowed four receivers to score at least 12.4 PPR points this season.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: Big resurgence in loss
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Kirk secured eight of 10 targets for 79 yards in the Jaguars' 47-10 loss to the Bills on Monday night.
After an utterly forgettable first two games where he'd generated a combined 2-29-0 line on seven targets, Kirk was the focus of Trevor Lawrence's attention very frequently in the lopsided loss. The veteran wideout led the way for Jacksonville in all of receptions, receiving yards and targets, a major departure from the first pair of contests. Kirk's usage Monday night was much more in line with what fantasy managers' expectations were coming into the season, and he could be very busy again during a Week 4 road divisional matchup against the Texans that is a must-win game for Jacksonville.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: WRs to Sit
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We keep waiting for Kirk to become a factor for the Jaguars and Fantasy managers, but he's basically been invisible for the first two games of the season against Miami and Cleveland. Kirk has seven targets combined in those two games for two catches, 29 yards and no touchdowns. Brian Thomas Jr. and Gabe Davis are outplaying Kirk, and he didn't get any boost in Week 2 against the Browns with Evan Engram (hamstring) out. Buffalo's secondary has held Marvin Harrison Jr., Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to a combined eight catches for 69 yards and no touchdowns on 13 targets in two games, and this could be another poor outing for Kirk in Week 3.
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Jaguars' Christian Kirk: Uninvolved again
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Kirk recorded one catch on three targets for minus-1 yard in Sunday's 18-13 loss to the Browns.
Kirk was targeted less than Gabe Davis, Brenton Strange and Brian Thomas, and he now has only two receptions for 29 yards through two games. His slow start can be blamed at least in part on Jacksonville's sluggish offensive performances, as the team mustered only 81 yards in the first half and was then reliant on deep shots to move the ball in the second quarter. Kirk has played a key role for the Jaguars' offense in each of the last two years, so it would be a surprise to not see him bounce back, though he will be tough to trust heading into a Week 3 matchup against Buffalo.
