Christian Kirk: ‘Let’s keep that underdog mentality’

The Jacksonville Jaguars were a Cinderella story in 2022, rising from the NFL’s worst team to become a division champion. It won’t be the same in 2023, though.

Not many teams have been given better odds to win Super Bowl LVIII than the Jaguars, and they’re the clear favorite to repeat as the AFC South champs.

Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk is hoping that won’t change the way the team approaches the upcoming season.

“Now we’re probably going to be in the conversation for offseason champions,” Kirk said last week on “The QB Room” podcast. “There’s always offseason champions and, honestly, blocking that out, and being like ‘Nah, we’re good on that. Let’s keep that underdog mentality.’

“As a team, we can’t let any of that get to us. We can’t hang our hats off of last season. Last season happened, it was cool, it was great, whatever, but once we step back in the building, we get back to work, it’s a whole clean slate.”

Kirk, 26, finished his first season in Jacksonville with 84 receptions for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns, all career highs. Next season, the Jaguars will add recently reinstated Calvin Ridley to their receiving corps.

The team’s success last season plus the new additions of 2023 will mean expectations are sky high for the Jaguars. It’ll be challenge for Kirk and the rest of the Jaguars to make sure they keep the same edge that propelled them to the Divisional Round this January.