JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Christian Kirk may have gone from the trading block to the injury list on one play Sunday.
Kirk seemingly dislocated his left shoulder while trying to catch a deep pass in the fourth quarter of a 30-27 loss to Green Bay.
Kirk was one of six Jaguars — including all three starting wide receivers — injured in the game. Gabe Davis also hurt a shoulder, and rookie Brian Thomas Jr. left the game late with a chest injury.
Kirk’s injury appears to be the most serious. He was wearing a sling as he left the locker room. It might also keep him in Jacksonville. The seventh-year veteran has one year remaining on a four-year, $72 million contract and has been the subject of trade rumors for weeks.
“He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had, ever been around, one of the smartest players I’ve been around,” tight end Evan Engram said. “One of the best leaders I’ve been around.
“You saw him cut up today, too. He was rolling. He was getting going. Just a very unfortunate event. God doesn’t make mistakes; there’s a plan. … He’ll be just fine.”
The Jaguars (2-6) also lost cornerback Ronald Darby (hip) and guards Ezra Cleveland (ankle) and Brandon Scherff (knee). Scherff was the only one able to return to the game.
Jacksonville has now dropped 11 of its past 14 games. Trevor Lawrence rallied the team from a 10-point deficit late after committing two turnovers, but the defense crumbled in crunch time for the third time this season.
With Jordan Love (groin) watching from the sideline and backup Malik Willis in the game, the Jaguars needed one stop to get the ball back or send the game into overtime. On a second-and-6 play from the 34, Willis found Jayden Reed for a 51-yard gain.
The Jaguars bit on the run fake and left Reed wide open. They tried to let the Packers score two plays later, but Chris Brooks dropped to the ground and set up Brandon McManus’ 24-yard field goal that proved to be the difference.
“This one is definitely going to hurt because I feel like we had a great game defensively, special teams, offensively,” defensive end Josh Hines-Allen said. “I think we all made big plays when we needed them the most, but we didn’t get this victory. This one really hurts.”
Added coach Doug Pederson: “They’re devastated. They’re heartbroken. They’ve battled their tails off. They fought until the end quite frankly. That’s all I can ask for. But I also want them to understand too that these games come down to about two plays, three plays.”
Pederson pointed to Lawrence’s fumble at the 5-yard line in the fourth quarter that set up an easy touchdown for the Packers and his interception in the second that set up another TD.
“Definitely affected the game, so it’s disappointing,” said Lawrence, who completed 21 of 32 passes for 308 yards. “Playing quarterback in this league, if you don’t play well, you’re not probably going to have a great chance to win.”
Losing six starters doesn’t help, either. Pederson provided no update on their short-term prognoses.
“We can’t be totally dejected by the result today,” Lawrence said. “I do think we’ve come a long way, and we are continuing to come together and become a better team. But we got to find a way to win next week. All the work is not in vain. We’ve come a long way, and we just have to go find a way to win.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Mark Long, The Associated Press
