HOUSTON – Texans starting wide receiver Christian Kirk and primary return specialist Braxton Berrios are both sidelined with hamstring injuries.
It’s a tough development for the Texans’ passing game and special teams days before a season-opener on the road against the Los Angeles Rams.
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Both are expected to miss the game. Kirk has a one to two week recovery anticipated, per league sources. Berrios is expected to be out a relatively short amount of time, per sources.
Both didn’t practice Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Offensive guard Ed Ingram (abdomen) was limited Thursday and did the warmup portion of practice open to reporters Friday.
Without Kirk and Berrios, rookie wide receiver Jaylin Noel figures heavily into the replacement plan. Noel is a classic slot receiver with 4.39 speed and good hands. He was named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year last season at Iowa State before being drafted in the third round by the Texans. Jayden Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson could get more targets, too. And Collins’ workload figures to increase even more.
Kirk is the Texans’ No. 2 wide receiver behind Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins and had established himself enough with his route-running skills and hands that teammates called him a “slot magician.”
Acquired in a trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kirk was brought into provide a reliable receiving presence in tandem with Collins. His $15.5 million base salary was restructured into a $14 million signing bonus for salary cap purposes to create $12 million in savings with the addition of void years for signing bonus amortization.
Kirk was limited to 25 catches for 320 yards and a touchdown last season in eight games after breaking his collarbone. He has caught 404 career passes for 5,176 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Berrios caught a touchdown in a preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. He’s a former All-Pro selection who has 134 career catches for 1,323 yards and six touchdowns with 3,289 return yards and four rushing touchdowns.
With Berrios’ injury, the Texans figure to lean even more into former Pro Bowl alternate running back Dameon Pierce as the main kickoff returner. Pierce is explosive and capable of breaking long runs, and tackles.
Meanwhile, offensive tackle Cam Robinson didn’t practice due to an illness and offensive tackle Blake Fisher, another backup, was limited due to a sprained ankle suffered during the preseason. He has been improving, though.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com