ARIZONA CARDINALS

Christian Kirk playing with more confidence in slot for Cardinals

Sep 21, 2021, 3:21 PM

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 19: Christian Kirk #13 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a catch against...

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 19: Christian Kirk #13 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a catch against the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter of the game at State Farm Stadium on September 19, 2021 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)


Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk told the media on Tuesday that he is in the best place mentally since he arrived in 2018.

“I’ve been through a lot through the injuries and just missing games and questioning a lot of different things,” Kirk said. “Playing this sport, there’s a lot you have to go through and battle mentally. It may not seem like that from the outside in, but but there is.”

Kirk missed at least two games in each of his first three NFL seasons. Last year, he had to watch the Cardinals from afar in Week 17 as he was on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

But, Kirk came into the 2021 season healthy and ready to contribute from a spot he is more comfortable in.

Since the Cardinals signed free agent wide receiver A.J. Green this offseason to line up outside, the plan was the move Kirk inside, where he played in college at Texas A&M.

Through two games, 69 of his 77 snaps have been from the slot, per Pro Football Focus. He leads the team in yards per catch with 16.9, which is seventh-highest in the NFL among receivers with at least eight catches.

He said he is questioning himself less and more focused on the task in front of him.

“It’s good playing back in the in the slot,” Kirk said. “It’s just one of those things I know like the back of my hand and it just feels natural. I don’t really have to think in there. I understand the concepts, understand what’s trying to be done and how to manipulate different coverages and zones and so it’s just easy for me in there.”

Kirk had three grabs on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, two of which put the Cardinals in positions to score.

The first was on third-and-16 in the second quarter. He caught the ball over the middle beyond the first-down marker and held on despite taking hits from two Vikings. The Cardinals scored a touchdown three plays later.

In the fourth quarter, the Cardinals trailed 33-31.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury elected to go for it on fourth-and-5 from the Vikings 41-yard line. Quarterback Kyler Murray dropped back 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage as the cover zero blitz came after him. He launched the ball off of his back foot, similar to a play in Week 1, to Kirk who had his defender beat. The gain of 35 yards set up the eventual game-winning field goal.

Both plays were made from the slot.

“I just think he feels healthy and he feels confident,” Kingsbury said Monday. “We’ve been able to play him more inside which is where I’ve always felt like he excelled even when he was a Texas A&M you know he was more of a slot receiver and can do a lot of damage in there. He’s more than capable of playing outside and can play at a high level outside. But he just looks really confident playing inside and had two huge catches yesterday that really helped win the game for us.”

Kirk credited the receiver corps as having players with unique and complementing skillsets.

He and rookie Rondale Moore primarily line up inside with DeAndre Hopkins and Green outside, and none of the four are similar to each other. This has led to a balanced attack through two games, as six Cardinals have at least eight targets, including tight end Maxx Williams and running back Chase Edmonds.

Having this many different weapons is another boost for Kirk, who has more reign to play to his own strengths.

“The goal in this in this business is to cater to player strengths,” general manager Steve Keim told Burns and Gambo on Friday. “Both of those players (Kirk and Moore), whether it’s their size and their movement skills and their ability to run routes with explosiveness, you’d like to have them inside and that’s where they can flourish.”

Kirk is in the final year of his rookie contract. The Scottsdale native said he will always live in Arizona, but he would love to be back with the Cardinals.

However, he said that is not his current focus.

“It is just one of those things where I’m taking one game at a time and just trying to keep it as one of those things that I focus on after the season,” Kirk said.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

11 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

14 hours ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

1 day ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

1 day ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Christian Kirk playing with more confidence in slot for Cardinals