The hits keep coming for the Houston Texans at the worst time.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, wide receiver Christian Kirk is dealing with a strained hamstring that is expected to sideline him for at least Sunday's opener against the Los Angeles Rams and a tad long. That's the expected timeline for now, but after further testing, Kirk could miss even more time.
According to Schefter, the injury is expected to sideline him for two weeks injury, but the Texans will be “cautious” with him as similar to Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins from a season ago. Collins, a two-time 1,000-yard receiver, suffered a hamstring injury in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills last season and missed the next five games despite being cleared for activity after four weeks.
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. pic.twitter.com/2nkyFGUhI8
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 4, 2025
Traded from Jacksonville for a 2026 seventh-round pick, Kirk was expected to be the No. 2 wide receiver to Collins after in March. Health has been a concern throughout his career, as Kirk has missed 14 games over the past two seasons because of season-ending injuries.
With Kirk sidelined, Houston will rely on rookie wideouts Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, along with veteran Xavier Hutchinson. Noel, the Texans' third-round pick out of Iowa State, mainly plays in the slot and is expected to get that first crack at reps.
“Jaylin’s been steady ever since he got here. Him and Jayden. It's a really consistent group, come to work every day. I think I've talked about it, very mature and obviously he's talented,” Texans offensive coodinator Nick Caley said Thursday. “He had his opportunity to play in the National Football League and we're really excited to have him. But, he's been working, he's been developing. Been very pleased with him and he cares, and he loves football. Can't beat that.”
The Texans host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football following Sunday's showdown at SoFi Stadium.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans: Christian Kirk to miss Week 1 after suffering hamstring injury
