The Jacksonville Jaguars raised eyebrows in the offseason when they cut ties with Christian Kirk. Sure, he had missed time with injuries each of the past two years, but he was a key cog on offense and one of Trevor Lawrence's most trusted targets. Fast forward to September, though, and the decision looks great in retrospect.
The Jags were originally planning to release Kirk but ultimately traded him for the division rival Houston Texans in return for a seventh-round pick in 2025. Aside from freeing up $10 million in cap space, one big reason the team's brass moved on from the former Texas A&M Aggie was that they had wide receiver Parker Washington in the fold. So far, he's proven to be a capable replacement.
The Jaguars are doing just fine without Christian Kirk
A second-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, Christian Kirk never reached the 1,000-yard mark during his first four NFL seasons. But that didn't stop the Jaguars from giving him a four-year deal worth $72 million. The decision rightly came under scrutiny, but there was a reason for optimism.
During his last season in the desert, Kirk hit his stride when he began to mostly line up in the slot. That's where he played with the Jags. He went on to have a career year in 2022, hauling in 84 receptions for 1,108 yards with eight touchdowns. The Scottsdale, Arizona, native was having another strong campaign in 2023 before he suffered a core injury. Things didn't get much better last year. Once again, injuries cut his season short.
Now, with the Texans, Kirk hasn't done much of note. He suffered a hamstring injury in the offseason that kept him out of the first two games of the season. The past two weeks, he's had six catches for 45 yards, a far cry from his breakout year with Jacksonville.
Related: Robert Saleh just went full supervillian after accusing the Jags of signal stealing
The Jaguars passing game needs work, but Parker Washington is a playmaker
With Christian Kirk out of the mix, Parker Washignton became his most logical replacement. The former Penn State Nittany Lion filled in for him each of the past two seasons and came through. Last year, in particular, he registered 32 catches for 390 yards with three touchdowns.
In 2025, Washington's receiving numbers haven't necessarily popped off the sheet, but he's most definitely developed into a key contributor. Back in Week 2, he had five receptions for 76 yards. And against the San Francisco 49ers, he had an electrifying return for a touchdown.
PARKER WASHINGTON 87-YARD PUNT RETURN TD 🐆
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 28, 2025
📺FOX pic.twitter.com/qBh9JuGW7O
You could also make the case that Travis Hunter is the actual replacement for Kirk, but at the time of his trade, they may not have fully thought about the possibility of drafting the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
But even if the Jaguars hadn't traded up to select Travis Hunter, the Jaguars are quickly proving that they're just fine without Christian Kirk (plus they have a seventh-round pick).