Jaguars HC Doug Pederson after win vs. Texans: Evan Engram has been ‘a blessing to our team’

Despite the fact that the Jacksonville Jaguars were set to play a ‘meaningless game’ against the Houston Texans in Week 17, he kept the team focused ahead of the divisional matchup. Not surprisingly, the Jags beat Houston 36-3 and several players reached individual milestones or set records. Tight end Evan Engram was one of them.

Against the Tennessee Titans in Week 17, Engram broke the franchise record, previously held by Kyle Brady for receiving yards by a tight end in a single game. Against the Texans, the former Ole Miss Rebel tore another Brady record when he caught a 13-yard pass. This time it was the one for receiving yards by a Jaguars tight end in a season. Brady had 729 yards in 2000 and Engram surpassed him with 736 yards.

A first-round pick by the New York Giants in 2017, Engram signed a one-year, $9 million deal with the Jags in free agency. Although he previously struggled with drops and started the 2022 season slow, he’s become one of Jacksonville’s top weapons on offense. Following the win over the Texans, head coach Doug Pederson met with the local media and discussed the tight end’s impact he’s had this season:

“It’s good for your offense”, Pederson said. “Just another weapon that you can scheme for. He set a record himself today for tight ends. Been a blessing to our team and a great leader. He’s another one, he’s a hard worker. Those guys, Evan, Christian [Kirk], those guys are what you want and how you can build a team and but having a guy like Evan really gives you some flexibility on offense with your gameplay”.

Jaguars HC Doug Pederson also had high praise for WR Christian Kirk

Engram wasn’t the Jaguars that earned praise from Pederson after the game. The head coach also talked about what wide receiver Christian Kirk has meant to the team.

“He’s a veteran player who we targeted free agency and he’s been nothing but professional in Jacksonville. He works extremely hard every single day out there. There is a reason why he has the numbers that he does and it’s because of his work ethic. And he’s been great for the room and great for our team. And happy for him and obviously his family for this milestone”.

Kirk was 12 yards shy of recording the first 1,000-yard season of his career and he got it when he hauled in a 13-yard pass on the Jaguars’ first offensive drive against the Texans. The former Texas A&M Auggie finished the game with two receptions for 21 yards and set a career high for yards in a season with 78. He reached a $500,00 bonus for crossing the 1,000-yard mark and will have a chance to unlock an additional $500,000 in incentives if he can get to 80 receptions in the season finale.

The Jags raised eyebrows around the league when they signed Engram and Kirk in free agency but both players have put all doubts to rest. In fact, you could make the case they’ve both exceeded expectations and are a big reason the Jags are 8-8 ahead of the season finale.