'The lightbulb is on’: Christian Kirk says Trevor Lawrence, Jags offense can achieve more
The Jacksonville Jaguars have set their sights on more.
A season after reaching the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs and setting career highs in statistical categories for multiple players, the team is preparing to achieve even more this year.
“We step on this field to be the best offense in the league and that's our mindset,” second-year Jaguars receiver Christian Kirk said Monday at the conclusion of Day 5 of training camp in Jacksonville.
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Krik is coming off career-bests in almost every category for a pass catcher. He topped his career numbers in receptions (84), targets (133), yards (1,108), and touchdowns (8) in 2022.
Christian Kirk & Gregory Junior. Nice catch from Kirk. pic.twitter.com/myQ3fcpVUf
— Juston W. Lewis (@JustonLewis_) July 31, 2023
It was a season that saw Kirk fully earn the free agent contract he signed during the 2022 offseason. Now, he’s hoping the team can start the season the way they finished last year’s run.
“We can't come out slow again,” he said. “It's fun having some comebacks, but it gets exhausting after a while. We want to make sure that we come out, start fast [and] when we get up, keep our foot on the pedal.
Change in Trevor: Lawrence has the lightbulb on
When Kirk was asked what the major change in Trevor Lawrence was from last year to this year, he echoed what coaches and players around the team have been saying: He’s a master of the offense.
“The light switch is on,” Kirk said. “Everything is just so quick, the way he's able to go through his reads. Maybe last year [him] not being able to get to his third progression. Now he's able to get to that.”
“The light switch is on…”#Jaguars WR Christian Kirk on what he’s noticed from QB Trevor Lawrence so far through camp.
He mentioned how quickly he gets through his progressions & his leadership. pic.twitter.com/mwm61yghXJ— Juston W. Lewis (@JustonLewis_) July 31, 2023
Lawrence has gotten rave reviews from head coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor in the early days of camp for his maturation in Pederson’s system. Meanwhile, Lawrence offered a big compliment to his skill players' last week.
Kirk hosted those skill players for a week in his home state of Arizona for some offseason bonding and training before camp started. It was a good time, in some serious heat.
“It was over 111 degrees for 20 days straight,” Kirk said as he flashed a smile. “I brought Calvin [Ridley] out with me, Seth Williams came out and we were able to train together, and it was a lot of fun.”
Juston Lewis is a sports reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on Twitter at @JustonLewis_.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars' Christian Kirk says Trevor Lawrence has improved in offseason