Jaguars lose Christian Kirk to abdominal injury in upset vs Bengals

The Jacksonville Jaguars took another upsetting loss in front of their home crowd on Monday Night Football but the bigger loss was revealed on Tuesday. Wide receiver Christian Kirk suffered a core muscle injury and will “obviously miss some time,” according to head coach Doug Pederson.

The team’s leader in receiving yards could miss up to eight weeks in recovery after having surgery, per NFL insider Ian Rapoport. On the bright side, however, if Kirk returns in that timeframe, he could help the Jaguars if they’re in Super Bowl LVIII in mid-February. Getting there will be much more of a challenge without the former Texas A&M star – and without Trevor Lawrence if the QB also has to miss time with his ankle injury.

#Jaguars WR Christian Kirk suffered a core muscle injury on his catch last night and is expected to need surgery. Rehab for a core muscle issue is generally about eight weeks.

If Kirk is ready at eight weeks, he could play in the Super Bowl if Jax makes it. A little earlier…

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 5, 2023

Kirk has 57 catches for 787 yards and three touchdowns so far this season. He was on pace to potentially top his career-high of 1,108 yards from last season, but it will be a challenge now that he’ll certainly miss a few games.

In his sixth year in the league, Kirk is on year two of a four-year, $72 million deal with the Jaguars. The Cardinals drafted him No. 47 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Up next for the Jaguars, a game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Without Kirk, Jacksonville will lean on Calvin Ridley, Zay Jones, Evan Engram, and even running back Travis Etienne to make up for lost production.

Trevor Lawrence questionable with high-ankle sprain

Following an MRI on Tuesday, the diagnosis for Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is a high-ankle sprain, according to head coach Doug Pederson. Pederson also shared that the former first-rounder is essentially day-to-day, saying the team will “see how he looks” this week. Asked specifically about Sunday’s game, the head coach wouldn’t provide a prospective timeline for Lawrence’s return.

NFL insider Mike Garafolo reported on Tuesday morning that his ankle “isn’t bad,” which means he could possibly return to action in Week 14.

Lawrence sustained the injury after getting his right ankle stepped on by his own offensive lineman while standing in the pocket. Lawrence needed assistance getting to his feet before collapsing back down to the ground. The 24-year-old slammed his helmet in frustration before being helped off the field and taken into the locker room for further examination.

With Lawrence sidelined, Jacksonville turned to veteran backup C.J. Beathard. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, Beathard was unable to lead the team to victory. The Bengals defeated the Jaguars, 34-31, after Evan McPherson nailed a 48-yard game-winning field goal in overtime.

Prior to his exit from the game, Lawrence had 22 completions on 29 attempts for 258 yards and two touchdowns. The former Clemson star hasn’t missed a game yet since entering the league in 2021. So far this season, Lawrence has 3,004 passing yards, 248 rushing yards and 18 total touchdowns with seven interceptions.