Jaguars WR Parker Washington is the biggest beneficiary of the Christian Kirk injury

After a somewhat unremarkable rookie campaign, Parker Washington has gotten lots of praise from the Jacksonville Jaguars throughout the offseason. It's easy to see why, the former Penn State Nittany Lions had a big return in Week 1 of the preseason and has continued to make plays during joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Head coach Doug Pederson, for one, isn't impressed, pointing out that the improvement is the result of the work the wideout has put in the past few months.

Pederson met with the local media before Day 2 of joint practices with the Bucs and said he was glad to see Washington test his skills against other teams.

"Anytime you get a young player going against an NFL starting secondary and defense, it's good to get a really good evaluation," Pederson said. "Parker's done a great job. He's been a real bright spot for our offense this camp. Even for him and Devin really to get these reps now are valuable."

Washington had a big return in the second joint practice and has generally stood out. He also had a 73-yard return against the Kansas City Chiefs in the preseason opener.

This is great news for the Jaguars in the short and long term. A sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft, Washington is making a strong case to get more playing time next season. That said, he mostly lines up in the slot, which is important when you take into account that Christian Kirk plays inside.

Right now, Kirk is nursing a calf injury. He was kept out of joint practices and won't suit up for Week 2 of the preseason. Doug Pederson told the media that they're keeping him out as a precaution.

The Jaguars will want Parker Washington as many chances to improve as they can

The Jaguars are taking the right approach with Christian Kirk. He's a vested veteran who doesn't need nearly as many reps as his sophomore counterpart. At this stage, it doesn't make sense to press him into action and expose him to further injury. The coaching staff is better off letting him get back to full strength so he's ready for the opener against the Miami Dolphins.

On the other hand, Washington needs as many reps as he can ahead of the 2024 season. As noted previously, Kirk will get the lion's share of the snap in the slot. However, the Jaguars need to be prepared in case he misses time. The second-year receiver could set foot on the field and the offense wouldn't miss a bit. Something similar could happen on special teams.

Jacksonville signed Devin Duvernay to a two-year deal worth $8.5 million in free agency because they wanted him to provide a spark to the return game. He should have a big impact but if he misses time at any point in 2024, Washington will be ready to step in his place.

The bottom line is that Parker Washington has been able to live up to the hype and praise he's been getting in the offseason. If he continues to make plays in the preseason, you'll see him on the field often.

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