The Jaguars will be without Christian Kirk
for the remainder of the season. The team’s receiver depth chart is set to be increasingly thin for a short-term period.
Rookie Brian Thomas Jr. is dealing with a chest/rib injury he suffered on Sunday. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports a two-to-four-week absence could be expected as a result. Thomas is seeking a second opinion on the matter and he informed Fowler’s colleague Michael DiRocco that MRI results confirmed no major injury took place.
While the first-rounder aims to practice as early as this week, he is in danger of missing time. Any absence would be notable in its own right given how impactful he has been for Jacksonville’s offense so far. In the wake of losing Kirk to a broken collarbone, however, missing Thomas would add further to the issues facing the team on the depth chart.
Selected 23rd overall in April, Thomas was the second LSU wideout to be added during the day of the draft (joining Malik Nabers in that respect). Jacksonville’s WR room lost Calvin Ridley during free agency, something which paved the way for a notable workload right away. Thomas has not disappointed so far; the 22-year-old has reached 60 or more yards in a game five times this year. He currently sits in a tie for sixth in the NFL with 573 yards and his five receiving touchdowns place him in a tie for third.
The Jags added Gabe Davis in free agency and he has been a regular presence so far in his debut Jacksonville campaign. The former Bill was not targeted yesterday, but that will likely change moving forward with Kirk out of the picture. Returner Devin Duvernay is currently on IR, but once he returns. he could also be in line for an increased role on offense. In any case, Thomas’ health will be a key factor in the team’s efforts to rebound from a 2-6 start.
