Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) lies on the turf after sustaining an unknown injury as tight end Evan Engram (17) reacts during the fourth quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Packers edged the Jaguars 30-27 on a last-second field goal. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Reports: Texans acquire WR Christian Kirk from Jaguars

The Houston Texans have acquired wide receiver Christian Kirk from the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2026 seventh-round draft pick, ESPN and The Athletic reported on Thursday.

The pick originally belonged to the Los Angeles Rams.

On Wednesday, the Jaguars announced they would release Kirk when the NFL free agency period kicks off on March 12. They instead found an interested suitor in the Texans and proceeded with the trade.

Kirk, 28, had 379 receiving yards, 27 receptions and one touchdown in eight games last season before breaking his collarbone in Week 8. He missed the remainder of the season and enters the final year of his contract.

The 5-foot-11 wideout carries a $16.2 million cap hit in 2025 after signing a four-year, $72 million contract with the Jags in 2022. He recorded 84 catches, 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns in his first season with the team — all career highs — as Jacksonville won the AFC South.

He missed the final five games of the 2023 season with an oblique injury and the Jaguars didn’t meet offseason expectations in 2024, stumbling to a 4-13 record.

Rookie Brian Thomas Jr. led Jacksonville in receiving yards (1,282) and touchdowns (10) in 2024 — cracking the NFL’s top 10 in both categories. Gabe Davis, Parker Washington, Devin Duvernay and Josh Reynolds are also on the depth chart as free agency and the NFL Draft approach.

The Texans have Nico Collins atop their wide receiver core and it’s murky after that. Stefon Diggs is a free agent and Tank Dell faces question marks for the 2025 campaign after suffering a major knee injury in December. He underwent a second surgery on Wednesday, to repair a torn ACL, after a prior surgery to repair other torn ligaments. He is expected to miss the season.

Kirk was selected in the second round of the 2018 draft and spent the first four seasons of his career with the Arizona Cardinals, where he posted 236 receptions, 2,902 receiving yards and 17 scores.

–Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan fields questions after introducing Liam Coen as the new head coach during a press conference Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 at the Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Jaguars name Rams’ James Gladstone as new general manager

Former Los Angeles Rams executive James Gladstone has been hired as the new general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the latter team announced Friday.

At age 34, he’s the youngest current general manager in the NFL.

Gladstone was with the Rams for the past nine seasons, starting as a senior assistant to then-GM Les Snead. He served in multiple roles over the years, including a promotion to be the team’s director of scouting strategy in 2019 before spending the past three seasons as the team’s director of scouting strategy.

The Jaguars picked Gladstone over candidates that included Chicago assistant GM Ian Cunningham, Green Bay VP of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan, San Francisco director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams, and Jaguars interim GM Ethan Waugh.

“James emerged as my choice, and our choice, following a painstaking but energizing interview process that left nothing to doubt,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a statement. “Every candidate delivered, and I am grateful to them all for their preparation and time spent with us this week in Jacksonville. In the end, we found James to be a class ahead and exceptional in every regard — vision, new ideas, communication, chemistry and a keen understanding of the league and our team, to name a few of many virtues he will bring immediately to the Jaguars.”

Gladstone is familiar with the Jaguars’ new head coach, Liam Coen, who worked for the Rams as assistant receivers and assistant QB coach from 2018-20 and as offensive coordinator in 2022.

Gladstone replaces previous general manager Trent Baalke, 60, who mutually parted ways with the Jaguars on Jan. 22. Baalke was with the Jaguars since 2021. Under his watch, the team posted a 25-43 record, including a 4-13 mark this past season under Doug Pederson, who was fired on Jan. 6.

“It’s going to be fun watching James work with our football leadership team of Liam Coen, (executive VP of football operations) Tony Boselli and (chief football strategy officer) Tony Khan, but most of all it will be rewarding. I am confident of that,” Khan said.

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) rushes for a touchdown during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguar at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Matt Gay’s OT field goal lifts Colts over Jaguars

Matt Guy kicked four field goals, including a 38-yard field goal in overtime, to help the Indianapolis Colts record a 26-23 victory over the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon in the season finale for both AFC South teams.

Jonathan Taylor rushed for 177 yards and one touchdown on 34 carries for the Colts (8-9). Joe Flacco completed 23 of 40 passes for 264 yards and one touchdown and Alec Pierce had the scoring reception.

Mac Jones was 20-of-32 passing for 225 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the Jaguars (4-13). Parker Washington had a touchdown catch, Tank Bigsby rushed for a score and Brian Thomas Jr. made seven catches for 103 yards.

Taylor gained 33 yards on six straight carries during the overtime to move Indianapolis into scoring range. When the drive stalled, Gay sent his kick through the uprights with 5:23 left in the extra session.

Jacksonville took over, and on third down, Jones was sacked by Colts star Zaire Franklin for a 16-yard loss to the Jaguars’ 18-yard line. On fourth-and-22, Jones hit Thomas but the gain was for 20, two yards shy of the first down as Indianapolis closed out the win.

Earlier, Jacksonville tied the score at 20 on Jones’ 9-yard scoring pass to Washington. It wasn’t easy though as Franklin hit Washington at the 1-yard line and he briefly lost the ball before grabbing it and diving into the end zone with 7:50 remaining in regulation.

Gay kicked a 45-yard field goal with 3:52 remaining to give the Colts a 23-20 lead. Jacksonville’s Cam Little made three field goals, including a tying 53-yarder with 1:44 left in regulation.

Indianapolis led 20-13 at halftime before the offenses slowed down.

Just three plays into the game, Flacco hit Pierce on a 40-yard touchdown pass. Pierce sped past Jacksonville’s Montaric Brown for an easy score.

Bigsby scored from the 1 with 8:12 left in the first quarter to knot the score. Little booted a 53-yard field goal to give the Jaguars a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter.

Taylor scored on a 6-yard run and Gay connected on a 49-yard field goal as the Colts took a 17-10 lead. Little’s 28-yard field goal brought Jacksonville within four with 1:25 left before Gay kicked a 36-yarder with 13 seconds to play.

–Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) walks on the sideline during the fourth quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Vikings defeated the Jaguars 12-7. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Jags QB Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) returns to practice

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence was scheduled to practice on Monday as the Jacksonville Jaguars returned from their bye week.

Lawrence, 25, missed the last two games for the Jaguars (2-9) with an AC joint injury in his left shoulder.

Coach Doug Pederson said the team will make a decision later in the week about his availability for Sunday’s date with the visiting Houston Texans (7-5).

Mac Jones started in Lawrence’s absence, completing a combined 31 of 51 passes for just 249 yards with zero touchdown passes and three interceptions in losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions.

Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 2,004 yards, 11 TDs and six picks in nine starts this season.

–Field Level Media

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) is pressured by Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Yasir Abdullah (56) during the second quarter an NFL football matchup Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

Vikings kick their way past Jaguars

John Parker Romo made four field goals in his NFL debut, and the Minnesota Vikings escaped with a 12-7 win over the host Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon.

Romo, a 27-year-old rookie who signed with the Vikings this week after rookie kicker Will Reichard went down with an injury, provided all of the scoring for Minnesota (7-2). The Vikings’ defense had three takeaways in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

Mac Jones scored on a 1-yard run to mark the only scoring for Jacksonville (2-8). Jones completed 14 of 22 passes for 111 yards and two interceptions as a replacement starter for Trevor Lawrence, who missed the game because of a shoulder injury.

Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold completed 24 of 38 passes for 241 yards but threw three interceptions. Minnesota running back Aaron Jones finished with 101 total yards (88 rushing, 13 receiving).

Romo put the Vikings on top 9-7 with 7:14 remaining in the fourth quarter. His 34-yard field goal sneaked inside the right upright for the go-ahead score.

On the next possession, the Jaguars committed their first turnover on a botched snap. Jones could not handle the ball, and Vikings defensive lineman Harrison Phillips pounced on the fumble at the Jacksonville 25-yard line.

Five plays later, the Vikings settled for another field goal to take a 12-7 lead. Romo connected from 29 yards for his fourth field goal.

Jones followed with another turnover on the next drive. He underthrew a pass toward receiver Gabe Davis, and Byron Murphy Jr. stepped in front of it for an interception.

The play marked Murphy’s fourth interception of the season and his third in the past three games.

Jacksonville’s final drive ended in a third consecutive turnover. Camryn Bynum intercepted a deep pass at the Vikings’ 1-yard line with 1:52 remaining.

The Vikings opened the scoring midway through the first quarter. Romo made a 45-yard field goal to finish a 12-play, 53-yard drive.

Jacksonville took a 7-3 lead with 3:44 to go in the first quarter. Jones scored on a quarterback keeper from the 1-yard line for his second career rushing touchdown.

Romo cut the deficit to 7-6 with a 33-yard field goal with 1:42 left in the third quarter.

–Field Level Media

Nov 3, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) passes the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Report: Jags QB Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) doubtful

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is unlikely to play Sunday against the visiting Minnesota Vikings due to a shoulder injury, NFL Network reported Thursday.

Lawrence, 25, is considered day-to-day as he continues to get treatment on his left shoulder, per the report. He is said to be weighing his options, which could include surgery down the road.

Lawrence was limited in Wednesday’s practice, with coach Doug Pederson saying his signal-caller is “sore.” He was listed on the injury report hours later with a left shoulder injury.

Asked whether Lawrence would be on the field Sunday for the Jaguars (2-7) against the Vikings (6-2), Pederson said he “can’t answer that today.”

On Wednesday, backup Mac Jones worked with the first-team offense and Jacksonville signed C.J. Beathard off the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lawrence has completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 2,004 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions through nine starts in 2024.

–Field Level Media

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) rolls out to pass as linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) follows on the play at Hard Rock Stadium.

Dolphins charge back, beat Jaguars on last-second FG

Jason Sanders nailed a 52-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Miami Dolphins a 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Miami (1-0) trailed 17-7 at the break before silencing the Jaguars in the second half.

Jacksonville running back Travis Etienne opened the door for the Dolphins, fumbling at the Miami 3 with 2:19 left in the third quarter. Kader Kohou recovered the loose ball in the back of the end zone for a touchback.

On the next play, Tua Tagovailoa connected with Tyreek Hill for an 80-yard score, pulling the Dolphins within 17-14.

Sanders later missed a 42-yard field goal that would have tied the game with 13:33 remaining in the fourth. However, he redeemed himself by making good on a 37-yarder with 4:22 to go ahead of his game-winner.

Tagovailoa finished with 338 yards and one touchdown on 23-of-37 passing. Hill had seven catches for 130 yards and the TD, while Jaylen Waddle finished with five receptions for 109 yards.

Before the game, Hill was detained by police about a block from the stadium over a traffic violation that led to a verbal argument. He was not arrested but cited for a moving violation, according to his agent.

Trevor Lawrence completed 12 of 21 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown for the Jaguars (0-1), who were outgained 400-267. Tank Bigsby was the game’s leading rusher with 73 yards on 12 carries.

Jalen Ramsey was called for defensive pass interference with 4:34 left in the first quarter, costing Miami 40 yards. One play later, Etienne plunged into the end zone from 1 yard out to put the Jaguars up 7-0.

Jacksonville doubled its lead when Lawrence capped an eight-play, 55-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to rookie Brian Thomas with 6:21 to go in the second quarter.

De’Von Achane got the Dolphins on the board with 1:04 remaining in the first half, rushing for a 1-yard TD.

However, Miami left too much time on the clock for the Jaguars, who managed to get a 53-yard field goal from Cam Little as time expired for a 17-7 advantage at the intermission.

–Field Level Media