Time To Adjust: Jaguars WR Christian Kirk Out For Season, Young Receivers To Fill In

Oct 28, 2024 at 04:56 PM

John Oehser

Jaguars Senior Writer

JACKSONVILLE – These are tough times, and not just at receiver.

But with the Jaguars facing a particularly difficult situation there – and with veteran Christian Kirk out for the season – wide receiver was the focus around the Miller Electric Center a day after one of the season's toughest losses.

The Jaguars (2-6) will be down personnel at the spot. Those remaining must play big.

"I don't think there's going to be a lot of wholesale changes schematically," Jaguars Head Coach Doug Pederson said Monday. "We just have to put our players in the best situations, take their strengths and utilize that game plan."

Kirk was among three Jaguars wide receivers not finishing a 30-27 loss to the Green Bay Packers (6-2) at EverBank Stadium Sunday. They were:

Kirk. The seventh-year veteran underwent surgery Monday and will miss the rest of the season with a broken collarbone sustained in the fourth quarter Sunday. "He's done, unfortunately," Pederson said. "Tough for him, tough for us." Kirk had 27 receptions for 379 yards and one touchdown this season, including two receptions for 59 yards Sunday.
Brian Thomas Jr.. The rookie is considered day-to-day with a chest injury sustained Sunday, and Pederson said Thomas could play against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday. "It's more about how much can he tolerate," Pederson said. Thomas has 33 receptions for 573 yards and five touchdowns this season, including three receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown Sunday.
Gabe Davis. Pederson said Gabe Davis early Sunday lost some feeling in a shoulder that has bothered him much of the season. "Sometimes those are funny things, but he should be fine," Pederson said. Davis has 18 receptions for 217 yards and two touchdowns this season with no receptions Sunday.

"I'm just hoping we can get back healthy," Thomas said.

Second-year veteran Parker Washington is expected to fill Kirk's role moving forward. A sixth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, he has six receptions for 67 yards this season including three receptions for 46 yards Sunday.

"He did some great things," Pederson said of Washington. “He has proven he can do it. We have a lot of confidence moving forward that he can fill that role."

The Jaguars currently have four wide receivers on the practice squad: Rookie Joshua Cephus, Elijah Cooks, Louis Rees-Zammit and Austin Trammell. Pederson said one of the players could signed to the active roster this week.

The Jaguars finished Sunday's game with two receivers – Tim Jones and Parker Washington – forcing the team to finish in "12" personnel two tight ends and two receivers. Thomas called the situation "super crazy."

The Jaguars 51 yards in eight plays for a 47-yard field goal on their first series without all three receivers, then drove 87 yards eight plays for a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Trevor Lawrence to tight end Evan Engram on the second and final series in the situation.

"They did a great job," Thomas said. "We haven't practiced much in stuff like that. Them being able to communicate, and to sort everything out, it was phenomenal for them go out there and do that."

Lawrence completed 10 of 12 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown on the final two drives, including six of eight passes for 87 yards and a touchdown on the final drive.

"I'm very pleased with how we respond," Pederson said. "You don't want to be down 10, but it's two weeks in a row we've been down 10 and responded. The fact that we did what we did at the end to tie the football game was pretty remarkable considering the amount of injuries we had late in the game. Trevor, I thought, did a great job leading the team. The guys around him – Parker, Tim, Evan, [tight end] Brenton Strange -- made plays for him too. The offensive line did some good things. That part of it was good.

"Now we just somehow have to get that to translate to the first play of the game and carry on from there."

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Pederson on Monday said left tackle is "undecided" moving forward. Fourth-year veteran Walker Little started and played the entire game there Sunday after Cam Robinson spent the early part of the week in concussion protocol. The game marked the first time in eight NFL seasons Robinson hasn't started at left tackle when healthy. "After the first couple series, he settled in and did some good things," Pederson said of Little. "We'll see how it goes this week."

NOTABLE

Pederson on Monday also addressed three other players who sustained injuries Sunday: Left guard Ezra Cleveland (ankle), right guard Brandon Scherff (knee) and cornerback Ronald Darby (hip). Pederson said Cleveland likely will be day-to-day this week, with Scherff likely OK for Sunday and Darby day-to-day. Scherff returned after his injury Sunday. Pederson also said safety Andrew Wingard, on injured reserve since training camp with a knee injury, could return this week. "I think he's really close," Pederson said.