The Jacksonville Jaguars spent big money on Christian Kirk with hopes that the receiver would be a reliable target to help second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence have a breakout year.
So far, so good.
Kirk, 25, has led the Jaguars in receiving in each of their first two games and caught a pair of touchdown passes against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2. Through his first two games with Jacksonville, he has 12 receptions for 195 yards, fourth most in the NFL as of Monday morning.
“It’s something that we’ve started back in the spring with those two kind of building that relationship,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said Sunday. “Christian [Kirk] is a great player. That’s why we went out and got him in free agency, and you can see it now two weeks in a row, some of the plays that he’s made. He’s made an impact for our offense.
“But yeah, it’s just a matter of them just continuing to work, stay on the same page, again, coming up with game plans that help Christian get open and Trevor [Lawrence] to find him.”
Lawrence shared glowing praise of Kirk when it was his turn at the press conference podium.
“Two games in, and it’s been great so far,” Lawrence said. “From a quarterback’s perspective, the way he plays, the way he sees the game, the way he gets open, just everything. He has a great feel, so it’s been great, that relationship, and just keep building that with all the guys.”
The Lawrence-Kirk connection is paying dividends for the Jaguars, who are one of 13 teams with at least 500 passing yards as of Monday.