Cardinals rookie WR Christian Kirk placed on IR with broken foot
Dec 3, 2018, 12:59 PM | Updated: 1:42 pm
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) and Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward Jr. (26) watch a pass coming in their direction during the first half of an NFL football game played Sunday November 25, 2018 in Carson, Calif. (John Cordes/AP Images for Panini)
(John Cordes/AP Images for Panini)
TEMPE, Ariz. — Cardinals receiver Christian Kirk will miss the rest of his rookie season due to a broken foot suffered in Arizona’s win Sunday over the Green Bay Packers, head coach Steve Wilks said on Monday. Kirk will be placed on the team’s injured reserve list.
Kirk, who at this point is Arizona’s leading receiver by yardage, caught three passes for a team-high 54 yards and added a 23-yard run in the Cardinals’ 20-17 win at Lambeau Field.
“He tried to fight through it,” in the fourth quarter, Wilks said. “He went out there a couple more plays and tried to endure. The pain was just too much for him.”
The second-round pick out of Texas A&M and product of Scottsdale’s Saguaro High School will finish the year with 43 receptions for 590 yards and three touchdowns. He also had three rushes for 35 yards on the ground.
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“It’s no setback for 2019,” Wilks said. “Did some great things. You can see from the game yesterday, really progressed and moving in the right direction.
“The things you guys don’t see is, really, his preparation. I say it all the time: ‘This guy’s a pro pro.'”
With Kirk sidelined, Arizona (3-9) can immediately turn to veteran Larry Fitzgerald (508 yards, 47 receptions), rookie Trent Sherfield (33 yards, three receptions) and fourth-year pro J.J. Nelson (21 yards, four receptions).
Second-year pro Chad Williams (113 yards, 11 receptions) could help the Cardinals if he is able to return from an ankle injury that has kept him out of action the last four games. Wilks said he expects Williams can return Sunday as Arizona hosts the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium.
To add depth to the receiving corps, the Cardinals sound like they are comfortable with the options at hand and receivers Jalen Tolliver and Montay Crockett, who are on the practice squad.
“It’s just the same mentality. Next man up,” Wilks said. “You saw Trent make a key catch yesterday, a third down, critical situation. We need more of that from him. Larry is going to be Larry. We got to get Jalen going a little bit, J.J., and we’ll get Chad back.”
Kirk will also need to be replaced at punt returner. He made 21 returns for 164 yards (7.8 yards) with 17 fair catches.
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