Not much has gone right for the Jacksonville Jaguars, including Year 3 of the Christian Kirk free agency signing.
Kirk, a priority free agent signing before 2023, came down with an injury earlier in 2024 and has been missing from the offense since.
Here’s the latest on Kirk’s injury and timeline for a return.
What Is Christian Kirk’s Injury?
Kirk isn’t afraid to put his body in harm’s way to get his hands on a pass. That’s exactly what he did on Oct. 27 against the Green Bay Packers, when he left his feet and extended his arms to collect a pass from quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Unfortunately, harm’s way found its way to Kirk. He landed hard on the ground and was forced to leave the game.
It’s not a good sign when a player bypasses the blue medical tent and heads straight for the locker room for further evaluation. It’s also not a good sign when the team rules that player out for the rest of the game quickly.
In the case of Kirk and his injury earlier this season, both of those things happened.
Predictably, Kirk’s injury was serious. He was diagnosed with a broken collarbone.
When Will Christian Kirk Return From Injury?
The Jaguars placed Kirk on season-ending injured reserve following his injury. That move ensured the veteran receiver’s absence from the team would stretch to the start of the offseason program.
The good news is that, by that time, he will be fully healed and ready to head into the 2025 season healthy.
When healthy, the Jaguars have a talented crop of receivers, with Kirk the leader in a room that now also includes first-round pick Brian Thomas, Jr. and fellow veteran Gabe Davis, who was signed this past offseason in free agency.
How Will Kirk’s Absence Impact the Jaguars?
In 2022, Kirk led Jacksonville in targets (133), receptions (84), receiving yards (1,108), and receiving touchdowns (eight). It was a promising beginning to his time with the organization after signing as a priority free agent.
Since then, though, injuries have been a hurdle for Kirk in Jacksonville. Kirk was placed on season-ending injured reserve last year, too, following an injury in Week 13. Now, this season has been shortened due to injury, as well.
Kirk’s 2024 season was his least productive as a member of the Jaguars. He entered the Green Bay contest with only 25 catches for 320 yards and one touchdown. His injury is just one of many that has impacted the Jaguars’ offense so far in 2024.
Davis was injured the same week and missed a game, while Thomas also suffered a chest injury versus Green Bay (though he played through his injury). Lawrence has also missed time due to a shoulder injury and both running backs — Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne — have missed time because of ailments.
With Kirk sidelined for the rest of the 2024 season, it will be Bigsby, Davis, Etienne, Thomas, and tight ends Evan Engram and Brenton Strange who must produce to keep the offense on track.