Christian Kirksey

Christian Kirksey

31-Year-Old LinebackerLB
 Free Agent  
Free Agent
2023 Fantasy Outlook
For the first time since 2017, Kirksey managed a fully healthy season. Though it was his age-29 campaign, he showed prowess in all areas of Houston's defense. He topped 1,100 snaps and the century mark in tackles, a significant presence stopping the run. Kirksey also was able to get after quarterback, matching his career best with seven quarterback hits and tallying three sacks. Finally, Kirksey continued to show some prowess in coverage, picking off a pair of passes while breaking up an additional five. Best of all, he remains healthy as the Texans head into training camp, and he'll be locked into a significant role for another year. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#Subscriber-Only
IDP
$Released by the Texans in August of 2023.
Wraps up career
LBFree Agent
Hamstring
September 21, 2023
Kirksey (hamstring) announced Thursday that he has decided to retire from the NFL, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Kirksey, who was on Buffalo's practice squad, will hang up the cleats after nine seasons in the NFL. The 2014 third-round pick played for the Browns from 2014-19 and also spent time with the Packers and Texans. To fill his spot, the Bills are signing A.J. Klein to the practice squad.
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NFL Stats
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2023 Christian Kirksey Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Christian Kirksey's measurables compare to other linebackers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 2"
 
Weight
235 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.72 sec
 
Vertical Jump
32.0 in
 
Broad Jump
122 in
 
Bench Press
16 reps
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Christian Kirksey See More
NFL Game Previews: Cowboys-Giants Matchup
September 22, 2022
Erik Siegrist analyzes the Monday night matchup as Daniel Jones leads the Giants against the Cowboys.
2022 NFL Offseason Guide: AFC South
February 24, 2022
With Carson Wentz reportedly on his way out, the Colts should have plenty of cap space but may nonetheless find it difficult to secure a sizable upgrade at QB.
NFL Game Previews: Tuesday Night Matchups
December 16, 2021
Erik Siegrist previews the Tuesday night matchups with game predictions, fantasy projections and DFS picks as Russell Wilson and the Seahawks look to beat the Rams in L.A.
IDP Analysis: Parsons Comes in Hot
December 7, 2021
Jordan Mazzara writes about this week’s noteworthy IDPs, starting with Micah Parsons who has recorded 30 stops, 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in the last five games.
NFL Game Previews: Patriot-Bills Matchup
December 2, 2021
Erik Siegrist previews the Monday night matchup with game predictions, fantasy projections and DFS picks as Mac Jones leads the Patriots into Buffalo for a key AFC East battle.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Kirksey has now missed four or more games in four straight seasons, but he did return to IDP relevance with the Texans last year, getting plenty of tackle opportunities in the middle of a bad defense. He finished with 93 in 13 games, and while unlikely to match his peak numbers from Cleveland a half-decade ago, the 30-year-old linebacker has potential as an LB2 for however long he stays healthy.
Blake Martinez is off to the Giants, and Kirksey is the favorite to take on his workload in 2020. It's reasonable to worry about Kirksey's performance level as he learns a new defense, and it's especially reasonable to worry about Kirksey's durability after hamstring and pectoral injuries ended his 2018 and 2019 seasons, respectively. But if Kirksey's injury luck does bounce back, an LB1 season could be in the cards. Even with teammate Joe Schobert piling up tackles at a high rate, Kirksey made 181 tackles in 2017 and 2018 while playing 1,547 snaps, meaning at that rate he would project for around 117 tackles over 1,000 snaps. There's less competition for tackles in Green Bay, though, where Martinez eclipsed the 140-tackle mark each of the last three years.
After starting 16 games for consecutive seasons, injuries finally caught up to Kirksey in 2018. He ultimately ended up starting all seven games he played and recorded 29 tackles (15 solo) in the process. At 26-years-old and entering his sixth season with the Browns, the starting weakside linebacker is also presumably entering his prime. Barring any unforeseen injuries, the Iowa product should have plenty of opportunities for a big year on an up-and-coming team.
The Browns are suddenly loaded at linebacker with Kirksey, Joe Schobert and Jamie Collins around, but Kirksey appears to be the one whose three-down workload is beyond question. A rangy playmaker perfectly cut out for today's increasing nickel formation emphasis, Kirksey has established himself as a top tackle source with 286 over the last two years. His speed hasn't resulted in many turnovers so far, but that might change as Myles Garrett and Emmanuel Ogbah grow into one of the league's most feared edge-rushing tandems. Kirksey is a fine blitzer otherwise, averaging 2.9 sacks in four seasons.
Kirksey broke out in his third season out of Iowa last year, as his promotion to a three-down role allowed his near-elite athleticism to shine through on the box score. Small but speedy, Kirksey's standout range will allow him to continue piling up tackles even if the Browns switch to a 4-3 after primarily playing in a 3-4 last season. The only thing to keep in mind is that regression is likely -- Kirksey's snap count (1,112) was largely a product of the Browns' offensive ineptitude, which figures to improve at least slightly this season.
While Kirksey saw his tackling total drop from 81 to 63 in his second year in the league, he recorded a career-high 3.5 sacks last year. Only 23 years old, the linebacker is one of the Browns' rising talents and should continue to grow under new defensive coordinator Ray Horton.
Kirksey tallied 81 combined tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble during his rookie year in Cleveland, stepping up big when fellow inside linebacker Karlos Dansby was forced to miss five games. He'll likely need a similar sequence of events to pass if he plans on seeing consistent playing time in the upcoming season, as Craig Robertson — who posted a career-best 99 combined tackles over 11 starts — will be the early favorite to win the starting inside linebacker job alongside Karlos Dansby. It projects to be a close battle, however, so Kirksey’s status is certainly worth monitoring in IDP leagues.
Kirksey will provide the Browns with depth at inside linebacker in 2014. If he can make an early impression in camp, the third-round draft pick could find himself just one injury away from seeing the field in his rookie campaign.
More Fantasy News
Lands on Bills' practice squad
LBFree Agent
Hamstring
August 31, 2023
Kirskey (hamstring) signed with the Bills' practice squad Wednesday.
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Released by Houston
LBFree Agent
Hamstring
August 28, 2023
The Texans are releasing Kirksey (hamstring) on Monday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
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Out a couple weeks
LBHouston Texans
Hamstring
August 11, 2023
Kirksey (hamstring) is expected to be sidelined for a couple weeks, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
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Misses time due to hamstring
LBHouston Texans
Hamstring
August 6, 2023
Kirksey has been sidelined the last few days due to a hamstring injury, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 Houston reports.
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Hits triple digits
LBHouston Texans
January 14, 2023
Kirksey had five tackles, an interception and one pass defensed in a 32-31 win over Indianapolis in Week 18.
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