A few hours after the Week 8 loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Jacksonville Jaguars got the discouraging news that wide receiver Christian Kirk will miss the remainder of the season with a collarbone fracture. Apart from putting a dent in the team's slim playoff hopes, it will effectively prevent the Jags from trading the seventh-year veteran before the November 5 deadline.
Kirk was the subject of trade chatter ahead of the deadline. Teams like the Los Angeles Chargers, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Pittsburgh Steelers were seen as potential destinations. However, his injury officially removes him from the conversation. That said, he wasn't the only Jaguars player that was drawing interest from other teams.
This begs the question, which players Jacksonville could place on the trade block? These three come to mind.
Travis Etienne, running back
Travis Etienne has been dealing with a hamstring injury that's forced him to miss the past two games. The good news is that he could return soon. In fact, he made an effort to play against the Packers but was ultimately inactive.
An important cog on the offense the past two years, Etienne has taken a backseat to Tank Bigsby this season. In six games, the former Clemson Tiger has logged 56 carries for 230 yards with two touchdowns. That's a solid statline, one that teams in need of help at running could use.
The Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs could be among the clubs that show interest ahead of the deadline.
Walker Little, offensive tackle
The Jaguars have a pair of starting left tackles in Cam Robinson and Walker Little. The former has been the subject of trade speculation since the end of the 2023 season but the latter might draw more interest because he has an affordable salary of $1.5 million for the season.
Little has appeared in 48 games with 18 starts, the most recent coming in Week 8. A second-round pick in 2021, the former Stanford Cardinal has fared well in relief of Robinson and can line up on both sides of the offensive line. That could make him an appealing option for teams who need help on the edge.
The Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants lost their starting left tackle to injuries, and both could be realistic suitors.
Devin Lloyd, linebacker
The Jaguars drafted Devin Lloyd in 2021 because they thought they were getting a playmaker at linebacker. They're still waiting for him to become that player. After experiencing ebbs and flows as a rookie, the former Utah Ute made progress last year. He was expected to make a leap in 2024 but has stagnated.
When Foyesade Oluokun sat out four games, Ventrell Miller filled in for him. He was much better than Lloyd and deserves to stay in the starting lineup long-term.
Given his status as a first-round pick, Lloyd has more grace and time to hit his stride. That could prevent the Jaguars from trading him, but there could be a team that makes them an offer they cannot refuse. If that's the case, they should listen.