Which Jaguars WR will step up now that Christian Kirk is out?

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jaguars got some good news on Monday. They may not be without their best receiver for long – if at all.

Brian Thomas Jr. suffered a chest contusion in Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers, but an MRI showed no further damage. Coach Doug Pederson said Monday there is a chance the rookie could play Sunday in Philadelphia (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS). Thomas leads the team in receiving yards (573) and touchdowns (five).

That was a relief for the Jaguars after slot receiver Christian Kirk was lost the rest of the season to a broken left collarbone. Kirk, who ranks second on the team in targets (47) and yards receiving (379), had surgery Monday to repair the injury.

Because the injuries to Thomas and fellow receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder) are not serious, the Jaguars won’t have to significantly change their offensive approach going forward like they did at the end of Sunday’s loss.

“I don’t think there will be a whole bunch of changes schematically,” Pederson said. “We just have to put our players in the best situations, which means we have to play to their strengths and use them in the game plan.”

The Jaguars had to work exclusively with twelve men for much of the fourth quarter on Sunday – one back, two tight ends and two receivers. That put backup tight end Brenton Strange and depth receivers Parker Washington and Tim Jones on the field with tight end Evan Engram as the Jaguars tried to rally from a 10-point deficit.

That group combined to collect eight passes for 101 yards and a touchdown — a leaping catch by Engram in the back of the end zone that helped tie the game at 27-27 with 1:48 to play.

But with the possibility of Thomas and Davis playing this week, the Jaguars can run their regular offense. Pederson said Davis “should be fine” and that Thomas has day-to-day life and his chance to play this week is “more about how much he can tolerate.”

Thomas said earlier Monday afternoon that he was sore, but he hoped he would feel better and be able to practice by the end of the week.

“If the pain subsides, I can try to get back out there as soon as possible,” Thomas said.

Losing Kirk means an expanded role for Washington, a sixth-round pick in 2023. Washington didn’t take advantage of the opportunity last season when he had to replace an injured Kirk as the Jaguars’ primary slot receiver, but the team has no doubts . he can do it now.

“He did some great things (Sunday),” Pederson said. “He is a player who has proven he can do it, so we have a lot of confidence that he can fill that role.”

In six games as Kirk’s replacement in 2023, Washington had 16 receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns. But he also missed a route adjustment in one game, forcing Trevor Lawrence to hold the ball and suffer a high ankle sprain.

Washington had an impressive offseason, with Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor consistently praising Washington’s better understanding of the offense, his conditioning and on-field performance during OTAs, minicamp and training camp.

“Parker is playing a lot more confidently,” Taylor said in August. “I think he’s a lot healthier than this time last year when we got him. He’s not worried every time they break up the discussion about what I’m doing, where is my position, how is this route changing ? Now, he’s heard it a hundred times, so we give a play call, we give a route, we move him. He knows the expectations of that specific player in that specific concept and now you just see the skills come out.”

This season, Washington has six catches for 67 yards, including three for 43 yards against Green Bay. He also had a franchise-record 96 yards punt return for a touchdown against New England on October 20, while filling in for injured returner Devin Duvernay (leg).

Now he is expected to make his second career start against the Eagles on Sunday.

“We feel very comfortable there,” Pederson said.

Pederson said the Jaguars would call up a receiver from the practice squad to replace Kirk’s roster spot. Austin Trammell seems the most likely because he is primarily a slot receiver, but the Jaguars used Elijah Cooks as an injury replacement in Weeks 14-15 of last season and he caught three passes for 38 yards against Tampa Bay.

“They’re certainly capable; otherwise they wouldn’t be here,” Engram said of the practice squad players. “It’s going to be all hands on deck. Obviously it’s a shame that we have to get to that point, but it’s the NFL and the guys have to step up. I don’t know exactly how we’re going to move forward, but we have to move forward. .”