New Green Bay Packers’ Christian Kirksey knows that his injury-riddled seasons of 2018 and 2019 caused many people to doubt his place in the linebacker elite of the NFL. Entering the 2020 NFL season, the 27-year-old is determined to prove them wrong.
Kirksey was limited to nine games in these past two seasons, struggling with hamstring and chest injuries. Still, the Packers decided to hand him a two-year, $16 million deal in the offseason, hoping that Kirksey can bounce back to play on a high level. And they are not alone.
In a recent chat with Packers’ official website, Kirksey said that he left his injuries behind him and is aiming to show everyone that he is “a great linebacker in this league.”
“I want to get back to playing great football,” said Kirksey. “Re-establishing myself and getting my name back out there and letting people know Christian Kirksey is back, Christian Kirksey is a great linebacker in this league. That’s what I’m shooting for.”
Kirksey spent the first six years of his career with the Cleveland Browns, totaling 484 tackles and 11.5 sacks during that period. He also proved effective in breaking the opponents’ pass game, managing 16 pass deflections, and two interceptions.
“For those who may have slept on me or said, ‘Oh, he’s injury-prone,’ or ‘He’s not the same player he used to be,’ I’m here to prove them wrong and prove to myself that I’ve still got what it takes to be one of the best linebackers in the league,” Kirksey added.
