Jacksonville, Florida — The Jacksonville Jaguars are set to conclude yet another season without the services of wide receiver Christian Kirk.
If this season mirrors the previous one, it could spell trouble for head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke.
Kirk is sidelined for the remainder of the year due to a broken left collarbone sustained during a close 30-27 defeat against the Green Bay Packers. This information comes from an anonymous source familiar with the situation, as the Jaguars have yet to release any public statement regarding Kirk’s condition.
Last year, Kirk faced a similar fate, missing a majority of the final six games of 2023 due to a core muscle injury that needed surgical intervention. During that stretch, the Jaguars managed only one win against five losses.
With the team’s record now sitting at 2-6, which puts them on the brink of playoff elimination again, Pederson will look to second-year player Parker Washington to fill the gap left by Kirk starting with their upcoming game against Philadelphia.
Washington, a sixth-round draft pick out of Penn State in 2023, has made an impact with 22 receptions for 199 yards and two touchdowns over two seasons. He also made headlines last week with a sensational 96-yard punt return for a touchdown against New England, in addition to a 73-yard kickoff return in the preseason that set up another score.
“We emphasize staying prepared because you never know when you’ll have to step in,” quarterback Trevor Lawrence mentioned. “This could be the time for some of these guys, and I have complete trust in their capabilities.”
The Jaguars have suffered through a disheartening stretch, losing 11 of their last 14 matches since a strong start of 8-3 last year. Key factors in this decline have included poor start performances, costly errors, ineffective play in critical moments, and one of the franchise’s worst pass defenses recorded to date.
Kirk’s injury poses another major setback as the Jaguars aim for a strong finish in 2023. To bolster the project offense, Baalke sought to acquire Gabe Davis through free agency and drafted Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round. Unfortunately, both of these players also found themselves on the sidelines during the latest game. Davis was restricted to only nine snaps because of a shoulder injury, while Thomas exited the match with a rib injury that will require additional assessments. This leaves the door open for Washington to seize a larger role going forward.
On a positive note, despite two turnovers, Lawrence delivered an impressive performance for the fourth successive week, completing 21 of 32 passes for 308 yards, netting two touchdowns, an interception, and a fumble in the game. He also rushed for a score to further contribute to the efforts.
Pederson expressed admiration for Lawrence’s supporting cast, particularly in light of the absence of Kirk, Thomas, and Davis as the team overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter. “He did a great job,” Pederson noted, attributing the success to the remaining receivers, tight ends, and offensive line who made crucial plays during critical moments of the game.
However, the Jaguars’ defense continues to falter, a troubling trend observed for the fourth time in eight outings. During a pivotal moment late in the game, the defense was unable to execute a strategy that left them vulnerable, culminating in a 51-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Malik Willis to receiver Jayden Reed, reminiscent of prior late-game collapses against Miami, Houston, and Indianapolis this season.
On a brighter note, left tackle Walker Little, making his first start of the season, demonstrated poise in place of Cam Robinson. He may become a consistent presence moving forward, particularly if Robinson is traded as he is in the last year of a three-year contract worth $52.75 million.
Conversely, defensive lineman Arik Armstead’s performance has been a disappointment as one of the less successful free agent signings for the franchise. The 31-year-old Armstead recorded only a single tackle while limited to 23 snaps in the game against the Packers, despite being signed to a three-year, $43.5 million contract with $28 million guaranteed.
In terms of injuries, Kirk will be placed on season-ending injured reserve, which could present opportunities for players like Elijah Cooks, Joshua Cephus, or Austin Trammell to move up from the practice squad. Additionally, cornerback Ronald Darby and guard Ezra Cleveland were injured in the game, while veteran safety Andrew Wingard is expected to return from injured reserve this week, potentially making a start against the Eagles.
The Jaguars are facing an uphill battle, having lost four consecutive encounters against Philadelphia, with a cumulative score of 115-59 in these matchups.
As the season progresses, it may be time for the Jaguars to turn their focus towards the future, evaluating necessary changes and forthcoming personnel decisions as they look toward 2025.
If this season mirrors the previous one, it could spell trouble for head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke.
Kirk is sidelined for the remainder of the year due to a broken left collarbone sustained during a close 30-27 defeat against the Green Bay Packers. This information comes from an anonymous source familiar with the situation, as the Jaguars have yet to release any public statement regarding Kirk’s condition.
Last year, Kirk faced a similar fate, missing a majority of the final six games of 2023 due to a core muscle injury that needed surgical intervention. During that stretch, the Jaguars managed only one win against five losses.
With the team’s record now sitting at 2-6, which puts them on the brink of playoff elimination again, Pederson will look to second-year player Parker Washington to fill the gap left by Kirk starting with their upcoming game against Philadelphia.
Washington, a sixth-round draft pick out of Penn State in 2023, has made an impact with 22 receptions for 199 yards and two touchdowns over two seasons. He also made headlines last week with a sensational 96-yard punt return for a touchdown against New England, in addition to a 73-yard kickoff return in the preseason that set up another score.
“We emphasize staying prepared because you never know when you’ll have to step in,” quarterback Trevor Lawrence mentioned. “This could be the time for some of these guys, and I have complete trust in their capabilities.”
The Jaguars have suffered through a disheartening stretch, losing 11 of their last 14 matches since a strong start of 8-3 last year. Key factors in this decline have included poor start performances, costly errors, ineffective play in critical moments, and one of the franchise’s worst pass defenses recorded to date.
Kirk’s injury poses another major setback as the Jaguars aim for a strong finish in 2023. To bolster the project offense, Baalke sought to acquire Gabe Davis through free agency and drafted Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round. Unfortunately, both of these players also found themselves on the sidelines during the latest game. Davis was restricted to only nine snaps because of a shoulder injury, while Thomas exited the match with a rib injury that will require additional assessments. This leaves the door open for Washington to seize a larger role going forward.
On a positive note, despite two turnovers, Lawrence delivered an impressive performance for the fourth successive week, completing 21 of 32 passes for 308 yards, netting two touchdowns, an interception, and a fumble in the game. He also rushed for a score to further contribute to the efforts.
Pederson expressed admiration for Lawrence’s supporting cast, particularly in light of the absence of Kirk, Thomas, and Davis as the team overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter. “He did a great job,” Pederson noted, attributing the success to the remaining receivers, tight ends, and offensive line who made crucial plays during critical moments of the game.
However, the Jaguars’ defense continues to falter, a troubling trend observed for the fourth time in eight outings. During a pivotal moment late in the game, the defense was unable to execute a strategy that left them vulnerable, culminating in a 51-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Malik Willis to receiver Jayden Reed, reminiscent of prior late-game collapses against Miami, Houston, and Indianapolis this season.
On a brighter note, left tackle Walker Little, making his first start of the season, demonstrated poise in place of Cam Robinson. He may become a consistent presence moving forward, particularly if Robinson is traded as he is in the last year of a three-year contract worth $52.75 million.
Conversely, defensive lineman Arik Armstead’s performance has been a disappointment as one of the less successful free agent signings for the franchise. The 31-year-old Armstead recorded only a single tackle while limited to 23 snaps in the game against the Packers, despite being signed to a three-year, $43.5 million contract with $28 million guaranteed.
In terms of injuries, Kirk will be placed on season-ending injured reserve, which could present opportunities for players like Elijah Cooks, Joshua Cephus, or Austin Trammell to move up from the practice squad. Additionally, cornerback Ronald Darby and guard Ezra Cleveland were injured in the game, while veteran safety Andrew Wingard is expected to return from injured reserve this week, potentially making a start against the Eagles.
The Jaguars are facing an uphill battle, having lost four consecutive encounters against Philadelphia, with a cumulative score of 115-59 in these matchups.
As the season progresses, it may be time for the Jaguars to turn their focus towards the future, evaluating necessary changes and forthcoming personnel decisions as they look toward 2025.