Houston Texans WR Christian Kirk will miss at least Week 1 of the NFL season after suffering a strained hamstring at practice.
Initial reports indicate that Kirk is also at risk of missing Week 2 as well, but that Houston is willing to be cautious with the veteran wideout’s recovery process to ensure he isn’t rushed back. The 28 year old was brought in to act as the club’s number 2 wide receiver behind Nico Collins given the uncertain status of Tank Dell.
However, his injury will now put added pressure on rookie wideouts Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel to perform right out of the gate. Noel in particular is expected to gain some additional looks out of the slot for as long as Kirk is sidelined.
With Houston set to face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1, the club will have an extra day to try to get Kirk back up to speed, as they’ll host Tampa Bay on Monday Night Football in Week 2. The former Jaguar had an injury plagued 2024 campaign, posting just 27 receptions for 379 yards and 1 TD.
His most productive NFL campaign came in 2022 when he hauled in 84 passes for 1,108 yards and 8 TDs in Jacksonville. Since then, he’s seen his numbers dip across the board in back to back seasons.
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