Christian Kirk, the Texans’ new wide receiver, will be missing. He is out with a strained left hamstring. The coaching staff tended to be more optimistic on the injury. Various reports indicate that Kirk may be out of action for as long as two weeks while he recovers from the surgery.
The Texans say they won’t rush Kirk back into action. His coach and medical staff now need to put his long-term health above any rush to get him back playing during the playoffs. After the Texans signed Kirk, many penciled him in as the No. 2 wide receiver opposite Nico Collins. Because of his long history of health problems he made this decision. In both of the last two seasons, he’s missed at least 14 games with three different season-ending injuries.
Kirk’s absence will leave a significant void in the Texans’ offense. During training camp, he emerged as a favorite target for rookie first-round QB C.J. Stroud. He often acted as Cam’s dependable safety net, too. His experience and ability to play primarily on the outside made him a key component of the team’s offensive strategy.
With Kirk now sidelined, the Texans likely need to look elsewhere to find a replacement to fill his role. Fifth-round rookie Jaylin Noel will likely assume the slot role, where Kirk was supposedly going to take the first-team snaps. At the same time, Jayden Higgins might be able to assume more outside duties next to Collins, forcing a reorganization on what’s been the stressfully inept offense. Xavier Hutchinson could play across from Higgins when the Texans use three-receiver bundles.
Kirk, who signed with the Texans in March after playing his first 6 seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. His addition was a shrewd move to shore up their receiving corps. It laid important groundwork for Stroud’s successful transition to the NFL. Yet, his difficulties with injuries still have some people questioning his durability and reliability in high leverage game moments.
We’ll see how the team adjusts, as they’ll be preparing for their opener without Kirk. They’ll have to shake up their strategy to really penetrate the Rams’ terrifying defense. Time will tell if Kirk’s road to recovery will involve any setbacks and how smoothly the Texans can adjust to life without him.
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