The Jacksonville Jaguars have been struggling to sustain drives and score points all season. They enter Week 5 averaging 2.8 successful third-down conversions per game, which ranks 30th in the NFL. Their 15.0 points per game average ranks 29th in the league.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence seemed to get good news on that front this week with one of his favorite and most consistent targets back on the practice field.
Tight end Evan Engram, out since Week 2 when he suffered a freak hamstring injury during pregame warmups, was labeled a game-time decision for Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts on Friday by head coach Doug Pederson.
MORE: 3 out, 9 questionable for Jaguars vs. Colts in Week 5
Although Engram was able to practice all three days, wearing a compression sleeve on his right leg, he's officially inactive for Week 5
Jaguars inactives vs. Colts: TE Evan Engram, S Daniel Thomas, LB Yasir Abdullah, DE Myles Cole, OL Javon Foster, OL Cole Van Lanen, DT Jordan Jefferson. Fourth consecutive game Engram will miss because of a hamstring injury.
— Michael DiRocco (@ESPNdirocco) October 6, 2024
Engram is coming off a career year as a pass catcher in 2023. He was targeted by Lawrence a team-high 143 times, notching 114 catches for 963 yards and four touchdowns. With the Jags still breaking in a couple new receivers in free agent signing Gabe Davis and first-round rookie Brian Thomas Jr., getting Engram back should move the needle for Jacksonville based on his chemistry with Lawrence alone.
With Engram officially ruled out, Brenton Strange would continue his recent role of fill-in starter in a must-win game for Jacksonville.
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