ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals WR Christian Kirk came ready to celebrate first NFL touchdown

Oct 8, 2018, 8:51 AM | Updated: 12:19 pm

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) runs against San Francisco 49ers defensive back...

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) runs against San Francisco 49ers defensive back Adrian Colbert (27) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

(AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Cardinals rookie Christian Kirk knew there was a good chance he’d be celebrating his first NFL touchdown in the early moments of Arizona’s Week 5 game against the 49ers.

Two days prior to Sunday’s 28-18 win in San Francisco, the receiver found out his team wanted to send an early message — that Arizona was going to be aggressive in using rookie quarterback Josh Rosen. And on Saturday, the team installed a deep shot that had Kirk, the second-round pick who most draft analysts believed was more of an inside receiver, streaking down the field.

He didn’t get ahead of himself and didn’t tell anyone outside the locker room to keep an eye on the first Cardinals play.

“It was very tempting but I kept it to myself. I really wanted to but … I wanted it to work out in my favor,” Kirk told 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Doug & Wolf on Monday.

“I try not to think about it too much because, you know, plays like that, you just have to let them develop and just go out there and not overthink it, just go out there and play. It all set up perfectly. All I had to do is just make sure I got open, and make the catch and score.”

A crossing route by veteran Larry Fitzgerald did just enough to pull a 49ers safety away from challenging Kirk’s post route, Rosen hit his receiver in stride, and it was an easy jog into the end zone to put Arizona up 7-6 after its first offensive play from scrimmage.

“I thought (the safety) wasn’t going to cut Larry and then last-second, he ended up driving — right when I saw him plant his foot — and go ahead and drive the cross that Larry’s running,” Kirk said. “I knew we had a play.”

But then came the celebration, which Kirk looked just as prepared for as his execution of the 75-yard touchdown reception.

He grabbed his stacks, packed a duffel and slung it over his shoulder as he left the field.

“We call that securing the bag,” he said.

There could be more securing of bags in the future. Especially as Arizona has searched for answers in its wide receiving core with few downfield options, Kirk’s big play could open up more opportunities for him to be used as a vertical threat to open up the Cardinals’ playbook.

“I have the ability to do it; I’ve said it since Day 1, all the way through the combine,” Kirk said. “I’m just looking to build on that, on Sunday, and hopefully I showed that and been able to build trust that we can do it throughout this season.”

Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks smiles at a news conference after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. The Cardinals won 28-18. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson, left, runs in front of San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster (56) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard, left, is sacked by Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen, right, hugs San Francisco 49ers defensive end Cassius Marsh after an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, left, shakes hands with Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks after an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) runs against Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker, bottom, during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers defensive back Richard Sherman (25) talks with field judge James Coleman during the second half of an NFL football game between the 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen, left, passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard, bottom, scrambles away from Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (36) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers running back Alfred Morris (46) runs against Arizona Cardinals defensive back Bene' Benwikere (23) and free safety Antoine Bethea, rear, during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, center, dives against San Francisco 49ers defensive back Adrian Colbert (27) and linebacker Fred Warner (48) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers running back Matt Breida (22) runs toward the end zone to score on a touchdown reception against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) looks to pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Bynes (57) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard (3) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Bynes (57) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) scores a touchdown against San Francisco 49ers defensive back Adrian Colbert (27) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Bynes (57) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard (3) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard (3) passes as Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones (55) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, center, dives against San Francisco 49ers defensive back Adrian Colbert (27) and linebacker Fred Warner (48) during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) San Francisco 49ers running back Matt Breida (22) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

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