The Jacksonville Jaguars lost more than one game on Sunday. During the Game 8 loss to the Green Bay Packers, the troubled AFC South club also saw its top three wide receivers, including rookie megastar Brian Thomas Jr., suffer injuries. The worst could belong to veteran Christian Kirk, who has been the subject of new trade speculation, only to endure what has since been a broken collarbone, as ESPN reported.
Kirk, who recorded two receptions for 59 yards before Sunday’s retirement game, is on the verge of sitting out the remains of the 2024 NFL season due to the impact. His forecast comes just ahead of the league’s Nov. 5 trade deadline, and in the days following it was reported that he was a top target among catcher-needy teams.
Initially signed to a four-year, $72 million guarantee in a one-off contract in 2022, Kirk was quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s star center in his first season with the Jaguars, eclipsing 1,100 receiving yards. He averaged a career-high 13.8 yards per reception to begin his sophomore season, the only thing he missed in 2023 for five total games due to a groin injury. He’ll finish 2024 with a career-low 27 receptions for 379 yards and one score in eight games.
The former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver is owed more than $24 million in 2025, the full year of his guarantee, but could be released this offseason to save between $10.5 million and $16.5 million.
In the wake of his upset, Carolina Panthers veteran Diontae Johnson is arguably the supreme crossover receiver left before the trade deadline. Johnson was just traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, but is no longer under warranty beyond this season and has reportedly been eyed by other teams in recent days.
