Feb 8, 2020; Houston, TX, USA; View of the field at TDECU Stadium before a XFL football game between the Houston Roughnecks and the Los Angeles Wildcats. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Roughnecks lose top WR Jontre Kirklin for season, bring back WR Tavonn Salter
Kirklin was injured early in Thursday’s loss to the Sea Dragons in Seattle.
The Houston Roughnecks got some bad news, as their top wide receiver, Jontre Kirklin, is expected to miss the rest of the season with a chest injury, according to a report from Evan Willsmore at XFL News Hub.
Kirklin had established himself as the Roughnecks’ top receiver, making athletic and acrobatic catches while showing the ability to create yards after the catch. He was playing well enough that he should have gotten on some NFL radars before his injury.
Despite being injured early in the Roughnecks’ Week 5 game in Seattle, Kirklin is still currently sixth in the XFL in receiving yards with 253 and tied for sixth with a 16.9 YPC average (both of those numbers are tops on the Roughnecks). Kirklin is also still second in the XFL in receiving touchdowns with four, leading Houston.
The team will look to Travell Harris and Justin Smith to step up and fill the void left by Kirklin.
The Roughnecks are also re-signing WR Tavonn Salter, per Willsmore:
The Roughnecks play next on Monday night, March 27 on the road against the undefeated D.C. Defenders. Kickoff is 6 p.m. CT.
