The Jacksonville Jaguars released tight end Evan Engram earlier this year, but didn't make a big investment to replace him. That was mostly due to the presence of Brenton Strange, who showed in 2024 that he was ready for a bigger role.
Of course, the Jags still needed to add depth behind Strange, so they signed Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt, a pair of cost-efficient options in free agency. Later in the offseason, they also brought in Quintin Morris.
Fast forward to the regular season, and injuries have pressed Morris into action. He's surprisingly delivered, which is why head coach Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence recently acknowledged just how valuable he is.
Quintin Morris has stepped up for the Jaguars in light of inuries
Following the win over the Los Angeles Chargers, Liam Coen praised Quintin Morris, pointing out that he's followed his career dating back to his stint with the Buffalo Bills.
"Man, first of all, yeah, Quinn has made plays like in Buffalo. I watched him a bunch. He made plays in playoff games more so, though, catching the ball right and like, doing things athletically and in space, " Coen said (10:08 mark). "And, man, he gave us a boost on Sunday, and he has been; that's how he's been trending through all through special teams. And then you go out and see him, put it on tape, and be as physical and explosive as he was on numerous occasions."
Coen continued, "Like, I want to see what he can do with the ball and his hands, too, right? So I think Rich Angulo is one of the best tight ends coaches I've ever been around, and he has done a phenomenal job with the next man up mentality and getting those guys prepared and ready to play."
Trevor Lawrence had similar praise of Morris, noting that he's done anything he can to help the team.
"He's been awesome, just a super hard worker. Really can do anything he's asked, though, I mean, he can block, he can run all the routes. He's got great hands. Just shows up when you need him. And obviously, at tight end, we've been a little banked up this year, so him being able to step up and do a lot of different things for us," Lawrence said (3:47 mark).
Brenton Strange landed on the Injured Reserve after suffering a quad injury in the win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Fellow tight end Hunter Long has also dealt with injuries and missed the past two games. That's led the coaching staff to lean on Morris.
The Jaguars have an underrated contributor in Quintin Morris
Quintin Morris signed with the Buffalo Bills after going undrafted in 2021. He spent his rookie season in the practice squad before making the 53-man roster the following year. The Bowling Green product became a free agent in 2025 and signed with the Jags after the draft. Although he's only logged one reception for 11 yards, he's carved up a niche as a blocker in light of injuries at tight end.
It's worth noting that Quintin Morris didn't make the Jaguars' initial 53-man roster, but the team's brass valued him enough to sign him to the practice squad. With injuries striking the tight end room, the Jags elevated him on game day as many times as they could (three) and later signed him to the active roster.
NFL teams need as many blue-chip players as they can get their hands on to win games on a consistent basis. That said, you cannot have a roster with 53 Pro Bowlers. Clubs need players who can fill specific roles and step up when called upon. The Jaguars have one such player in Quintin Morris.