Christian Kirk’s debut as a member of the Houston Texans will be postponed for at least a week due to a strained hamstring. This injury will prevent him from participating in the Texans’ regular season opener against the Los Angeles Rams and possibly longer, as reported by ESPN.
While there’s a rough recovery estimate of two weeks, the Texans are cautious about Kirk’s recovery, which is a sensible approach given their depth at wide receiver.
The Texans’ receiving lineup includes Pro Bowler Nico Collins as well as rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Consequently, Noel, a third-round draft pick who scored 15 touchdowns in his last two seasons at Iowa State, is set to make his first career start this Sunday against the Rams.
Furthermore, the Texans still have wideout Tank Dell, though he may miss the entire season recovering from a severe injury suffered late last season. Dell’s injury significantly influenced the Texans’ decision to bolster their receiving corps this offseason through free agency and the draft.
Even with their depth, the Texans will certainly miss Kirk, who was acquired during the offseason via trade from the Jaguars. At just 28, Kirk is a seasoned seven-year NFL veteran, having been a reliable target since entering the league with the Cardinals in 2018.
Before his injuries, Kirk had proven to be one of the league’s most consistent receivers, just shy of 1,000 receiving yards in 2021 and reaching career highs of 84 receptions, 1,108 yards, and eight touchdowns in his inaugural season with Jacksonville.
