‘Excited for this next chapter, I promise it’ll be my best one yet,’ new Texans receiver Christian Kirk sets high goals

HOUSTON – Now that the Texans have traded for Christian Kirk to upgrade a receiving corps thin on health and proven talent except for Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins, the next steps are having the veteran wide receiver get acclimated to an overhauled offense.

Kirk issued a statement on social media saying goodbye to the Jacksonville Jaguars,, who dumped his $15.5 million salary to an AFC South division competitor in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round draft pick. And Kirk, coming off an injury-shortened season due to a broken collarbone, is setting high goals with his new NFL employer.

“My preparation for the upcoming season is already under way, and the only way from here is up,” Kirk wrote. I’ll be back stronger than ever, and I’m excited for this next chapter with the Texans. I promise it’ll be my best one yet.”

“I’ve had incredible moments being a Jacksonville Jaguar,” said Kirk, who set a career-high with 84 catches for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022 as the former second-round draft pick joined the Jaguars as a free agent. “I’ll always be grateful to Duval for changing my life and my family’s, and we appreciate the love and support more than y’all will ever know! I’m thankful for the coaches and teammates I’ve had the privilege to play alongside, and I’ll truly miss putting on that Jaguars uniform.

“This past season has been one of the toughest because getting injured was never what I expected, no matter how common it is. Though I gave all I could to support my teammates from the sideline, not being out there with my guys on the battlefield was never easy.

Now, the Texans can pair Kirk with Pro Bowl wide receiver Collins in what figures to be a strong tandem. The Texans aren’t expected to bring back four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and figures to have a strong free agent market.

Plus, wide receiver Tank Dell is still recovering from a pair of knee surgeries to repair his torn anterior cruciate ligament, lateral collateral and medial collateral ligaments after suffering a gruesome knee injury against the Kansas City Chiefs in December. Dell is expected to miss the entire season.

Kirk was scheduled to be released. Instead, the former Aggies standout stays in the AFC South division with a trade to join the defending division champions. The Texans made it clear the NFL scouting combine that wide receiver is an “area of emphasis” this offseason when coach DeMeco Ryans addressed an obvious need.

“It hurt us down the stretch, not having Stef, not having Tank,” Ryans said. “You need those playmakers, especially at the wide receiver position. It enhances your ability to move the football down the field and score points.”

This is similar to the scenario that unfolded last year when the Texans acquired Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon in a trade from the Cincinnati Bengals when he was scheduled to be released and then signed him to a three-year, $27 million contract extension.

Kirk, 28, is a shifty former Arizona Cardinals draft pick who originally joined the Jaguars on a four-year, $84 million deal three years ago.

He’s due a $15.5 million base salary this year.

Kirk has a $29,411 per game active roster bonus, a $500,000 workout bonus, plus $3 million in not likely to be earned incentives for catches and yards. And 3026, 2027 are automatically voidable years.

The Texans haven’t begun efforts yet to lower his salary-cap impact, per a league source.

When healthy, Kirk has been ultra-productive, though.

Kirk has caught 404 career passes for 5,176 yards and 29 touchdowns.

With the Cardinals, his most productive season was in 2021 when he broke out with 77 catches for 982 yards and five touchdowns.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com