Beat: Week 1 roster spot slipping away from Kirk?

San Francisco also placed offensive lineman Austen Pleasants on injured reserve. Both players will miss at least four games to start the year. Kirk missed most of training camp with the calf issue. Mike Evans, De’Zhaun Stribling, and Deebo Samuel will start for the team in three-receiver sets. Even when Kirk comes back, he’s likely stuck as the WR4 on the depth chart.

Kirk was seen leaving Sunday’s practice with trainers and was later diagnosed with a calf strain that will sideline him for the foreseeable future. The veteran receiver signed a one-year deal with the 49ers this offseason, is expected to compete for playing time with Ricky Pearsall, De’Zhaun Stribling, and Jordan Watkins. Kirk caught 28 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown in 13 games with the Texans last season

Kirk, 29, is entering his ninth NFL season. As is often the case with NFL veterans, Kirk has picked up his fair share of injuries over the years, including two hamstring strains last season. Fortunately, we are a long way from Week 1. There is no cause for concern at this time. 49ers acting head coach Chris Foerster will address the media shortly, so we could have clarity as to what the issue is soon.

Kirk spent last season in a backup role with the Texans, finishing the year with 28 receptions for 239 yards and one touchdown on 52 targets. The veteran receiver has seen 99 targets in 21 games over the last two seasons while playing over 75 percent of his snaps from the slot. In 2025, current free agent Jauan Jennings led the 49ers with 142 slot snaps, but he’s unlikely to return to the team. Depending on how the rest of the offseason goes, Kirk could earn a decent role in San Francisco, but it’s hard to imagine him having too much fantasy viability outside of deep leagues.

One of Kirk’s missed connections was a hellacious first quarter drop. A Wild Card hero, Kirk was one of many Divisional Round goats despite his 10-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Mostly a 4-6 target player out of the slot this season, Kirk was able to hold off third-round rookie Jaylin Noel, but only just. Now heading into his age-30 campaign as he prepares for free agency, Kirk could be a victim of the Texans’ receiver youth movement. Wherever he plays in 2026, the best he could hope for in fantasy is low-ceiling WR4 status.

Collins was unable to practice throughout the week. Texans slot WR Christian Kirk operated as the team’s No. 1 wide receiver last week, and is likely the best bet to do so again against the Patriots. It is an unfortunate development for Collins, who also missed his team’s Week 8 game against the 49ers due to concussion. Texans rookie WRs, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, have a chance to rise to the occasion.

The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander believes Collins is “a long shot” to play on Sunday against the Patriots, given “the steps he must clear.” Unfortunately, he might be right. Collins still has time to advance through the NFL’s five-phase concussion protocol, but another absence at tomorrow’s practice would be discouraging. Veteran slot WR Christian Kirk stepped up last week, catching 8-of-9 targets for 144 yards and one touchdown in the Texans’ Wild Card win over the Steelers. We expect him to operate as the team’s top target earner if Collins cannot play.

Kirk served as quarterback C.J. Stroud’s primary option throughout as alpha wide receiver Nico Collins drew lockdown shadow coverage from standout corner Joey Porter Jr. That role only grew in the fourth quarter following Collins’ departure due to a concussion, an ailment that has a good chance of keeping him sidelined through the team’s Divisional Round matchup against the Patriots next weekend. Jayden Higgins will likely step into the primary perimeter role in the absence of Collins after catching 3-of-4 targets for 39 yards against the Steelers, while Xavier Hutchinson and Jaylin Noel split WR3 duties.

Noel managed just 11 offensive snaps, but still outgained Christian Kirk (39 snaps, minus-3 yards on two targets) in the box score. We don’t get it, and we haven’t all season. The Texans look happy with him as a kick returner but Noel has made no real in-roads to a starting job in the 2025 season.

Kirk, questionable with an illness on Friday, not only played, but had his highest snap count (39) since Week 9 and highest target count since Week 12. Did the listing remind the Texans that he was on the roster? We don’t get it — and while he had one nice slant over the middle here, there was nothing that otherwise said Kirk needed to be a featured target. They don’t let us control target counts though, as much as we ask. Kirk will be a weak WR5 play against the Chargers in Week 17.