Jaguars activate WR Christian Kirk from IR ahead of Week 18

Christian Kirk is back on the Jaguars’ active roster a month after undergoing core muscle surgery in December.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk is back on the active roster after a four-week stint on injured reserve, the team announced Saturday.

Kirk, 27, underwent surgery in December after suffering a core muscle injury on the Jaguars’ first offensive play in Week 13. Earlier this week, Kirk revealed he’d been playing through a partial tear of a right abdominal muscle since Week 6 and said he tore his left ab and left adductor muscle “off the bone” in Week 13.

The loss of the veteran receiver — who led the team in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions in 2022 — has proven costly for the Jaguars. The team struggled with miscommunications between quarterback Trevor Lawrence and his receivers, leading to interceptions and miscues.

While Kirk will be on the active roster Sunday for a game against the Tennessee Titans, he’s expected to be a game-time decision and could still be scratched by the Jaguars ahead of kickoff.

In a corresponding move, the Jaguars moved return specialist and wide receiver Jamal Agnew to the injured reserve. The veteran suffered a broken ankle in the team’s Week 17 win against the Carolina Panthers and will miss the rest of the season, according to coach Doug Pederson.

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