Christian Kirk returning to his roots in second year with Jaguars
If you're like most Jacksonville Jaguars fans, odds are you were wondering why the team shelled out a deal worth up to $84 million to Christian Kirk last year. He was coming off his best statistical year, as he finished 2021 with 77 receptions, 982 yards, and five touchdowns. Regardless, it was a lot of […]
If you're like most Jacksonville Jaguars fans, odds are you were wondering why the team shelled out a deal worth up to $84 million to Christian Kirk last year.
He was coming off his best statistical year, as he finished 2021 with 77 receptions, 982 yards, and five touchdowns. Regardless, it was a lot of money for a guy who failed to reach double-digit touchdowns, much less crack the 1,000 receiving yards mark.
The gamble seems to have paid off. Kirk recorded 84 receptions, 1,108 yards, and eight touchdowns during his first year; a career-best in every statistic.
Those numbers could get even scarier this year thanks to the Jaguars' new weapon, Calvin Ridley.
Last year without Ridley, Kirk was asked to do more than play the slot only. He was asked to venture outside for snaps. Although most of his snaps came from the slot, Kirk did take 155 snaps as an outside receiver; hitting double-digit snaps from the outside eight times.
With Ridley on the field, Kirk will be back in the slot on a more regular basis. We saw it pay dividends vs. the Dallas Cowboys just yesterday: Kirk spent six snaps in the slot, with only one coming from the outside; the connection with Trevor Lawrence was working, particularly from the slot.
Ridley saw 12 snaps in the game, and all of them were on the outside.
Could this be a tell for what Jaguars fans could expect for the 2023 season? Allowing Kirk to return to his roots, so to speak, should only make that much better, which is a scary thought for opposing NFL defenses.
© Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
