Jaguars will have Christian Kirk vs. Dolphins but special teams ace may not suit up

The Jacksonville Jaguars kept Christian Kirk out of the preseason as a cautionary measure. At the time, the veteran wideout was dealing with a calf injury. However, he's since returned to practice and will be a full-go against the Miami Dolphins in the season opener.

Head coach Doug Pederson met with the local media ahead of the season opener and told the media that Kirk is at full strength. On the other hand, safety Daniel Thomas is day-to-day with a heel injury.

A second-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, Kirk signed with the Jaguars in 2022. That year, he set new career bests for catches and receiving yards while becoming one of Trevor Lawrence's most trusted targets. The former Texas A&M Aggie was on pace to have another productive season in 2023 but suffered a core injury that forced him to miss the last four games.

Earlier this year, Kirk said that he's now looking to wake some people up and remind everyone just how much of a playmaker he is. He'll get his chance against Miami. Thomas, for his part, is listed as a safety on the depth chart, but he mostly contributes on special teams. He was set to become a free agent in March but returned on a two-year deal.

If Thomas doesn't suit up for the opener, maybe Jacksonville can elevate safety Matthew Jackson, who can also play special teams, to the active roster for the opener. After going undrafted last year, the Eastern Kentucky product signed with the Tennessee Titans and spent the 2023 season with them. However, he was waived on cutdown day. After going unclaimed, he was signed by the Jags to their practice squad.

The Jaguars offfense will be at full strength with Christian Kirk in the fold

The Jaguars surely missed Christian Kirk when he went down last year. At the time, they had no one who could fill in for him. That's changed now, with the emergence of sophomore Parker Washington. The former Penn State Nittany Lion showed throughout the offseason that he can make an impact if called upon. Then again, the coaching staff won't need to call his name often as long as Kirk stays healthy.

With Kirk in the mix, the Jaguars' wide receiver corps will be at full strength. With Gabe Davis and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. stretching the field and drawing coverage away, Kirk and tight end Evan Engram will find more favorable matchups. They'll have to face safety Jordan Poyer, who's been dealing with a thumb injury. Similarly, defensive back Jevon Holland has missed practice with an undisclosed ailment but may suit up in Week 1.

The Jaguars went 3-0 in the preseason but as Doug Pederson noted, they are now 0-0 and looking to get their first win of the year. Having a fully healthy Kirk will certainly increase their chances.

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