The Houston Texans will have to wait for a debut of their new veteran receiver.
Christian Kirk is not expected to play in Week 1.
On Thursday afternoon, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported this on X:
"Texans WR Christian Kirk has a strained hamstring that is expected to sideline him for at least Sunday’s opener vs. the Rams and possibly longer, per sources. One source estimated it to be a two-week injury for Kirk, but the Texans will be 'cautious' with him."
MORE: Derrick Henry reveals his retirement plans
Hamstring issues are never a good thing for WRs.
The Texans brought Kirk in this offseason to add a possession element to the passing game, especially with Tank Dell still sidelined, but Kirk won't get to debut yet.
His absence is likely good news for Jayden Higgins and a few other wideouts in Houston.
Everyone knows Nico Collins is the top dog in the passing game catching throws near and far from C.J. Stroud.
Beyond him, the second-round rookie Higgins is likely to see the most targets. That may have been true even with Kirk on the field, but without Kirk, Stroud will likely stay on the perimeter with Collins and look the other way to Higgins when the star is covered.
Houston's likely slot backup is another rookie, Jaylin Noel. He probably steps in for Kirk in Week 1, and potentially beyond.
MORE: Josh Allen paints a beautiful picture of a Super Bowl parade in Buffalo
The Texans' WR depth chart also has two speedsters, Justin Watson (new from the Chiefs) and Xavier Hutchinson, entering his third season in Houston.
Houston opens the season on the West Coast. They play in the late afternoon window Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. In Week 2, it's the Texans' home opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kirk may or not be back for that one. His hamstring will have to mend first.
MORE NFL NEWS:
- This Ravens rookie was a star in his college rocket club
- Why Browns chose Dillon Gabriel as QB2 over Shedeur Sanders
- Saints just signed their next Taysom Hill
- Johnny Manziel reveals crazy NSFW hatred for Cleveland Browns
- Devin Hester Jr. is great at returns, but he isn't the Bears' Hall of Famer's son
- Why Jets chose QB Justin Fields over 'celebrity' Aaron Rodgers