Jaguars training camp: 4 key observations ahead of Day 7
3. Jaguars TE Evan Engram has struggled with drops in training camp
Training camp isn’t indicative of a player’s performance in the regular season. Having said that, it’s not great news to hear that Evan Engram has struggled with drops over the last few days.
Doug Pederson told the media Sunday that he’s pleased with Engram’s performance and added that it’s better for him to have drops now than in the regular season. The Jaguars head coach has a point. It isn’t time to hit the panic button just yet but the former Ole Miss Rebel has a lengthy history of not being able to come down with the ball.
A first-round pick by the New York Giants in 2017, Engram had a concerning 11 drops in his rookie campaign and while he hasn’t logged as many in any of the last four seasons, he needs to work on becoming a more dependable target. To his credit, he was catching balls after practice Saturday, so this might turn out to be a non-issue in the regular season.
Evan Engram on the jugs machine post-practice for #Jaguars. pic.twitter.com/l7jTdnv8dr
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) July 30, 2022
Engram signed a one-year deal worth $9 million in free agency, so it’s fair to say that he will have a big role in the Jaguars’ offense this upcoming season. He doesn’t have to be perfect but he needs to cut down the number of drops and become a reliable target.
The last thing Jacksonville wants is Engram not being able to come down with a clutch catch with the game in the line in the regular season. Again, Pederson might not be worried right now but this will be something worth monitoring in the upcoming weeks.