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Jaguars Place WR Christian Kirk On IR

December 8th, 2023 at 10:43am CST by Adam La Rose

Already known to be facing a multi-week absence, Christian Kirk is now in line to miss an extended stretch. The veteran wideout will be placed on injured reserve, head coach Doug Pederson said on Friday (via Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network). The team has since announced the move.

Kirk will undergo core muscle surgery, a procedure which will shut him down for a critical stretch in the season. With the surgery now confirmed, attention will turn to the 27-year-old’s recovery process. By virtue of being moved to IR, an absence of at least four weeks is now guaranteed. The Jaguars will be without a major part of their offense as a result.

Kirk leads Jacksonville in receiving yards (787) this season, and he also ranks first on the team amongst wideouts in receptions (57). A recovery timeline of up to eight weeks has been floated in his case, something which would end his season unless the Jaguars managed to make a run to the Super Bowl. Coming back along a shorter timeframe could still allow him to return to the lineup in time for the team’s regular season finale, though.

In any event, Kirk’s absence will be acutely felt on an offense which has struggled to consistently produce through the air this season. The former Cardinal has eclipsed 84 receiving yards five times in 2023, his second season in Duval County. His first year with Jacksonville – brought about by the four-year, $72MM deal which raised plenty of eyebrows at the time it was signed – produced a career-best statline of 84-1,108-8.

Year 2 with the Jaguars was likewise proving Kirk’s presence as an integral member of the team’s passing attack. The presence of trade acquisition Calvin Ridley will help offset Kirk’s absence, though a sizeable gap exists between Ridley and Jacksonville’s next most productive wideout (Zay Jones, who has posted 186 yards on 18 catches). Tight end Evan Engram and running back Travis Etienne will be increasingly counted upon with Kirk not in the picture.

Of course, quarterback Trevor Lawrence‘s status is also up in the air after he left Monday’s game with a high ankle sprain. The former No. 1 pick has not been ruled out for Week 14, but he has work to to during practice to convince the coaching staff to continue his streak of having not missed a game in his career. Regardless of who is under center for Jacksonville in the immediate future, though, Kirk will not be available.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/7/23

December 7th, 2023 at 6:24pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Jacksonville Jaguars

New England Patriots

Pittsburgh Steelers

Elliss was waived by the Eagles yesterday following the team’s signing of Shaquille Leonard. The linebacker spent the better part of the past three seasons in Philadelphia, getting into 19 total games. He appeared in a career-high 12 games this season, collecting 21 tackles while appearing in about 15 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. Elliss also had a significant role on special teams.

Since the Patriots play tonight, the move will be deferred to tomorrow, per ESPN’s Field Yates.

Trevor Lawrence Suffers High Ankle Sprain

December 6th, 2023 at 10:10am CST by Adam La Rose

DECEMBER 6: It probably goes without saying that Lawrence will need to show significant improvement to play in Week 14, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport detailed during a Good Morning Football appearance this sprain has affected the ligament connecting the tibia to the fibula. The third-year QB faces an uphill battle to be ready for the Jaguars-Browns matchup, though it still represents good news for the Jags that Lawrence playing Sunday is even a consideration after the scene Monday.

DECEMBER 5: The Jaguars suffered an upset loss Monday night, but the key takeaway from the game was the injury suffered by quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He was forced to leave the contest and did not return, leading to questions about the length of time he will miss as a result.

Lawrence is believed to have suffered a high ankle sprain, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. His colleague Cameron Wolfe adds the former No. 1 pick was using crutches and a walking boot as he exited the stadium after the game.

A Tuesday MRI does not appear to have produced a diagnosis that would threaten Lawrence’s season, with The Athletic’s Jeff Howe indicating the third-year QB will attempt an aggressive rehab program with the intent of playing in Week 14 against the Browns. Though, it is still too early to know if the Jags will have their starter back so soon after he limped off the field Monday night.

Lawrence could still be in line to miss at least some time, something which would deal a major blow to Jacksonville’s offense and the team’s bid to maintain its lead atop the AFC South. Monday’s loss dropped the Jaguars to 8-4, just one game ahead of the Texans and Colts. Lawrence has yet to miss a start in his NFL career.

The 24-year-old endured a forgettable rookie season during Urban Meyer‘s brief time as the Jaguars’ head coach, but he took a step forward last season while leading the team to the divisional round of the postseason. Expectations were high entering 2023, the second year with Doug Pederson at the helm. Lawrence and the offense have shown flashes during the campaign, but overall the unit has put up middling numbers in a number of categories. Lawrence has thrown no more than two touchdowns in any contest this season, surpassing 275 passing yards four times so far.

Still, the Clemson alum remains the focal point of an offense which has not managed to run the ball consistently. Jacksonville sits 22nd in the NFL with an average of 103 yards per game on the ground, so leaning increasingly on Travis Etienne may not produce an effective counterbalance to Lawrence missing time. Provided the latter is sidelined for any of the Jaguars’ remaining contests, veteran C.J. Beathard will likely be relied upon under center.

Beathard finished yesterday’s game, his 11th total appearance with Jacksonville dating back to 2021. The 30-year-old has not started a game since the end of his 49ers tenure in 2020, however. When speaking after the game, Pederson admitted a timeline for Lawrence’s absence is currently unknown while expressing support for Beathard (via ESPN’s Michael DiRocco) if he is thrust into a starting role down the stretch. Jacksonville also has Nathan Rourke – who joined the team this offseason after an impressive stint in the CFL which drew the attention of several interested teams – available on the QB depth chart.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/5/23

December 5th, 2023 at 6:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

New Orleans Saints

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

  • Waived from PUP list: LB Drew White

A 2021 third-round pick, Rice started 10 games over his first two seasons. Although the Titans cut Zach Cunningham and let David Long sign with the Dolphins, they brought in Azeez Al-Shaair and have used second-year UDFA Jack Gibbens as starters this season. Rice has been strictly a backup, and a post-transaction tweet suggested the young defender was not too broken up about this Tennessee cut.

Hyder joined the Texans earlier this season. The 49ers had waived the rotational pass rusher after trading for Randy Gregory. Reuniting with DeMeco Ryans, Hyder spent much of his Texans stay on their practice squad. The team used the defensive end in two games this season, giving him 40 defensive snaps as a backup. Hyder would be eligible to return to Houston’s P-squad if he clears waivers.

Jaguars’ Christian Kirk Likely Needs Surgery; WR To Miss Time

December 5th, 2023 at 2:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jaguars have avoided the worst-case scenario with Trevor Lawrence. The ascending quarterback suffered a high ankle sprain and has been deemed day to day. Once Lawrence returns, he may not have one of his go-to wide receivers available.

Christian Kirk sustained a core muscle injury during Jacksonville’s overtime loss Monday night, and Doug Pederson said (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo) the sixth-year wide receiver will likely need surgery. It has not yet been confirmed Kirk will go under the knife, but the former second-round pick will miss time.

Players regularly return from core surgeries after a number of weeks, so the prospect of Kirk being shut down for a bit — likely via an IR stay — and then coming back later this season may be in play. The team continues to evaluate its 2022 free agency pickup, who has played well since signing a widely scrutinized four-year, $72MM deal. It might not be a lock Kirk comes back, however, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport positing an eight-week recovery timetable could be in play here. Unless the Jaguars qualify for Super Bowl LVIII, such a timeline would end Kirk’s season.

Working in the slot frequently in Jacksonville this season, Kirk has joined Calvin Ridley as Lawrence’s top targets. Kirk resided as the Jags’ No. 1 wideout last season, when he finished with 1,108 receiving yards and eight touchdowns before helping the team erase a 27-point Chargers lead in a historic playoff comeback. This season, Kirk leads the team with 787 yards. Whereas Ridley has been more boom or bust in his first Jags season, Lawrence has been able to rely on Kirk regularly. No Jaguars pass catcher has totaled 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons since Jimmy Smith in the mid-2000s; this injury could certainly affect Kirk’s chances of matching that feat.

As they were last year, the Jaguars are in good shape regarding injury activations. They have five such moves remaining. Although Kirk going on IR would deal a blow to the Jags’ chances of repeating as division champions for the first time since the late 1990s, the team has Ridley and Zay Jones in place. Jones, who missed extensive time this season, has returned to a regular role. Rookie Parker Washington also scored a touchdown and caught six passes for 61 yards — his first receptions as a pro — against the Bengals. Washington is expected to take over as Jacksonville’s primary slot receiver, ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco notes. While the sixth-round pick showed promise Monday, DiRocco adds he ran an incorrect route on the play Lawrence suffered the ankle injury.

Kirk, 27, has not missed a game since the 2020 season. He resides as a key long-term piece for the Jags, who have Ridley in a contract year. The dependable target missing an extended stretch could certainly threaten the Jags’ hopes of winning the division, with a potential Lawrence absence compounding the issue. Lawrence has never missed an NFL game.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/4/23

December 4th, 2023 at 8:57pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

  • Designated to return from IR: LB Malik Hamm

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Green Bay Packers

  • Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): DB David Long

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Promoted: TE Josh Pederson

New York Giants

While the Giants haven’t activated Tyrod Taylor, the veteran QB is expected to be back on the active roster next Monday. In preparation, the team has moved on from Matt Barkley, who has been serving as the backup to Tommy DeVito since Daniel Jones went down with an injury. Barkley hasn’t seen the field for a regular season game since 2020, when he got into five games with the Bills.

Injury Updates: Garrett, Bengals, Etienne, Dolphins

December 2nd, 2023 at 12:07pm CST by Ben Levine

Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett likely suffered some structural damage in his left shoulder, an injury that was aggravated during last weekend’s loss. As Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes, it’s uncertain if the injury will even require surgery, and Garrett is determined to continue playing this season.

“I feel terrible,” Garrett said following Sunday’s loss to the Broncos. “Everything hurts, shoulder hurts. But we’ve got to keep on going, keep on rolling till the wheels fall off. We’re having great success and enjoying how this team is really coming together, especially down the stretch. And we’re going to continue to keep on working hard to be fresh and fit whenever we get to Sunday.”

Garrett said he felt a pop in his shoulder during the game, but he also admitted that he’s been dealing with a shoulder issue for the entire season. The injury could be attributed to the AC joint sprain Garrett suffered last season, or it could be an entirely new injury, with Cabot speculating that the pass rusher may be dealing with a partial dislocation.

The former first-overall pick is on track to earn another All-Pro nod in 2022. In 11 games, Garrett has collected 13 sacks, 23 QB hits, and 12 tackles for loss.

More injury notes from around the NFL…

  • The Bengals got some good news on both sides of the ball ahead of Monday Night Football. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Bengals wideout Tee Higgins and linebacker Logan Wilson will play against the Jaguars. Higgins has missed the past three games while dealing with a hamstring injury, while Wilson is recovering from an ankle injury suffered last weekend. Unfortunately, it’s not all good news in Cincinnati. After suffering a sprained ankle at practice this week, Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt will not play on Monday night, per Schefter.
  • On the other side, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said he’s expecting running back Travis Etienne to play on Monday night, per ESPN’s Michael DiRocco. Etienne suffered a rib injury last weekend that briefly forced him to exit the game, and he’s been practicing on a limited basis throughout the week. If he is sidelined on Monday, the Jaguars would lean on D’Ernest Johnson and rookie Tank Bigsby.
  • De’Von Achane is expected to play for the Dolphins this weekend, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. After returning from a knee injury in time for Week 11, the running back was once again sidelined with the issue for Week 12. Meanwhile, Terron Armstead said he intends to play this weekend despite suffering a quadriceps injury on Black Friday. It was initially thought that the offensive tackle could miss multiple weeks, so this is an encouraging update for the Dolphins offense.

Updated 2024 NFL Draft Order

December 1st, 2023 at 1:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

With Week 13 underway, the picture at the top of the NFL draft board continues to become clearer. Plenty is yet to be determined with respect to the top of the order, however.

The Panthers’ ongoing struggles led to Frank Reich‘s firing, but the Bears own Carolina’s top pick this year due to the 2023 swap which landed Bryce Young via the No. 1 selection. Chicago being able to have the top pick once again – coupled with their own selection landing in the top-10 – would make the Bears a team to watch closely come April. The race for the top two or three slots (and, as such, the ability to draft QBs Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, along with wideout Marvin Harrison Jr.) will also be a key late-season storyline for the Cardinals and Patriots.

The Commanders have lost three straight games, overshadowing a promising season from first-year starter Sam Howell. After deciding to move on from defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the trade deadline, the team’s defense has continued to struggle. DC Jack Del Rio is out as a result, and head coach Ron Rivera‘s position is not believed to be on strong footing. A top-five pick could make the job in Washington more attractive presuming a opening arises this offseason.

For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2024 standings — plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule — with playoff squads being slotted by their postseason outcome and regular-season record. Here is an updated look at the current draft order:

  1. Chicago Bears (via Panthers)
  2. Arizona Cardinals: 2-10
  3. New England Patriots: 2-9
  4. Chicago Bears: 4-8
  5. Washington Commanders: 4-8
  6. New York Giants: 4-8
  7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4-7
  8. New York Jets: 4-7
  9. Los Angeles Chargers: 4-7
  10. Tennessee Titans: 4-7
  11. Las Vegas Raiders: 5-7
  12. New Orleans Saints: 5-6
  13. Green Bay Packers: 5-6
  14. Los Angeles Rams: 5-6
  15. Cincinnati Bengals: 5-6
  16. Buffalo Bills: 6-6
  17. Arizona Cardinals (via Texans)
  18. Denver Broncos: 6-5
  19. Atlanta Falcons: 5-6
  20. Minnesota Vikings: 6-6
  21. Seattle Seahawks: 6-6
  22. Indianapolis Colts: 6-5
  23. Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-4
  24. Houston Texans (via Browns)
  25. Miami Dolphins: 8-3
  26. Detroit Lions: 8-3
  27. Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-3
  28. Dallas Cowboys: 9-3
  29. Kansas City Chiefs: 8-3
  30. San Francisco 49ers: 8-3
  31. Baltimore Ravens: 9-3
  32. Philadelphia Eagles: 10-1

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/29/23

November 29th, 2023 at 5:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves:

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Rumored to be eyeing kickers after rookie Chad Ryland‘s game-tying miss in Week 12, the Patriots will give Wright another opportunity. The Jaguars’ primary 2021 kicker, Wright has not kicked in a game this season. He logged six as a replacement leg — for the Steelers and Chiefs — last season. The Pats drafted Ryland in the fourth round and jettisoned Nick Folk on roster-cutdown day, trading the veteran to the Titans. Ryland has missed 35-yard field goals in back-to-back games; the Patriots will now give him competition.

Waived to make room for Monday claim Derek Barnett, Ammendola remains in place as the Texans’ Ka’imi Fairbairn fill-in. Ammendola, who also worked as a Harrison Butker replacement last season in Kansas City, will be elevated to Houston’s active roster once again, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. Ammendola missed two 50-plus-yard field goals, including a game-tying 58-yard try, last week. Fairbairn, who is recovering from a strained quad, can be activated from IR next week.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/27/23

November 27th, 2023 at 6:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Chicago Bears

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Waived from reserve/retired list: WR John Ross

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

San Francisco 49ers

Ross signed a reserve/futures deal with the Chiefs in January but retired before training camp. The Combine 40-yard dash record holder now intends to resume his career, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. Ross, who turned 28 today, has not played in a regular-season game since 2021 with the Giants.

A Raiders spring signee, Shelley did not make Las Vegas’ 53-man roster. The Rams picked him up before the season and have used him mostly on special teams. Shelley, who Bears and Vikings prior to this two-team 2023, has logged 76 defensive snaps this season. But the veteran cornerback has been on the field for 65% of Los Angeles’ special teams plays.

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