Christian

Kirksey

Kirksey joined the Bills less than a month ago after the Texans released him at the end of training camp. The veteran linebacker was a third-round pick of the Browns back in 2014 and appeared in 114 games during his career, totaling 778 tackles and 16.5 sacks while forcing 13 turnovers. Kirksey served as one of the Texans’ team captains last season, but didn’t appear in a game for the Bills this season.

Kirksey was let go by the Texans during the final days of roster cut downs but will now be on his way to Buffalo. Kirksey provides a veteran presence to the Bills’ locker room and should help tighten up a linebacking corps that lost Tremaine Edmunds to the Bears earlier this offseason. Kirksey played in 30 games for the Texans over the last two seasons, totaling 217 tackles and three interceptions. The nine-year vet is a welcomed addition to a roster that hopes to contend for a title in 2023.

Kirksey was a captain for the Texans last season but has been let go by the new regime. Kirksey has spent the last two seasons with the Texans, appearing in 30 games while totaling 217 tackles, three interceptions, and three sacks. A veteran defender with 114 career games under his belt, Kirksey will likely catch on with another team before the start of this season.

In his first year with Houston, Kirksey totaled 93 tackles, six tackles for a loss and one interception. While the details of his extension have yet to be released, he played out the 2021 season on a one-year deal totaling $2.8 million. Newly minted head coach Lovie Smith considers Kirskey a leader of Houston’s defense, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. We can expect his new deal to exceed last year’s after a strong first season with the team.

Houston also placed S A.J. Moore and DL DeMarcus Walker on the list after adding LB Kamu Grugier-Hill to the COVID list earlier in the week. Like many teams in the NFL, the Texans are going to have to turn to their depth this week.

He returns after missing the minimum three games. Kirksey had an every-down role for the Texans before going down, posting 56 tackles and an interception in eight appearances. The Texans also activated OL Justin Britt (knee) from IR.

This is for those of you in IDP leagues. Zach Cunningham has been the full-time linebacker with Kirksey out. Kirksey and Kamu Grugier-Hill were playing three-down roles when they were both healthy. When Kirksey is officially activated, it will likely boot Cunningham back down on the depth chart.

Kirksey tried to play through the injury last week but apparently wasn’t able to tackle up to his standards. Zach Cunningham will probably find himself back on the field in nickel sets for the Texans. Kirksey is out a minimum of three weeks.

Kirksey had a disappointing 2020 season in Green Bay, losing playing time to undrafted rookie Krys Barnes for much of the year. Kirksey, 28, also struggled with injuries while playing in 11 games. Pro Football Focus graded Kirksey as the 85th best linebacker in 2020.

Kirksey followed ex-DC Mike Pettine to Green Bay in 2020 but, much like the former’s most recent years in Cleveland, was oft-injured and available for only 11 games. The 28-year-old was also discouragingly outplayed by undrafted rookie Krys Barnes for much of the year. His release coupled with RT Rick Wagner’s will create around $9.8 million in cap space for the Packers in the new league year.