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DJ Bien-Aime
HOUSTON — Wide receiver Christian Kirk stepped up in a big way in the Houston Texans’ wild-card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night, and the team may need him to replicate that performance if fellow receiver Nico Collins can’t play Sunday.
Kirk’s career-high 144 receiving yards helped fuel the Texans’ 30-6 win and set a franchise postseason record, eclipsing Collins’ mark from last year’s wild-card win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
«I was really happy for Christian knowing the type of guy that he is,» Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. «He’s one of the best guys in our locker room and he works extremely hard throughout the week. He’s been grinding all season to be an impact player for us. I’m happy it worked out for him in one of our biggest games of the year.»
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Quarterback C.J. Stroud leaned on Kirk as he grinded through an uncharacteristic night in which he threw an interception and lost two fumbles. The three turnovers were his most in a game since his rookie season.
But Stroud and Kirk were still able to execute on pivotal third downs, with the Pro Bowl quarterback targeting Kirk nine times for 126 yards and a touchdown. Kirk especially came up big after Collins and Justin Watson entered the concussion protocol and were ruled out in the second half.
«I think he’s one of the best in the league,» Stroud said of Kirk. «We’ve tried to find ways to get him the ball. … I told him it’s not easy being in the year he’s in [and] not having the production, stats-wise. For him to keep going week in and week out, prepping the right way, to see it pay off was really dope. Super proud of him.»
The regular season was up and down for Kirk, whom Houston traded a 2025 seventh-round pick to acquire from the Jacksonville Jaguars in the offseason. Kirk, in his eighth year, finished with a career-low 239 receiving yards in the regular season, where he missed four games with hamstring injuries. His 64 receiving yards in Week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens was his high in the regular season.
New England Patriots on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC), Ryans said, «We’ll see how the week goes.» The Pro Bowl wideout didn’t practice Wednesday, and the last time he suffered a concussion — in Week 7 against the Seattle Seahawks — he didn’t play the following week.
«We’re one unit, and any of us at any moment can step up and be able to fill the void, and make plays when they are needed,» Kirk said. «My number was called, and I’m glad I was able to step up in those moments.»
