JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The injury struggles continue for the beleaguered Jaguars with the team losing tight end Evan Engram to a season-ending shoulder injury.
Head coach Doug Pederson announced on Friday morning that Engram, a Pro Bowler last year, would have surgery to repair a labrum issue.
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“After more MRIs, results, testing, all that, he’ll have a labrum to get fixed,” Pederson said. “He’ll have surgery and fix the shoulder and miss the rest of the year.”
Engram had already been out early this season due to a hamstring injury. He played in all 17 games last year and set franchise tight end records in receiving yards (963) and catches (114) and made the Pro Bowl. Engram has 365 yards and a touchdown on 46 catches. His loss means more work for second-year tight end Brenton Strange (23 catches, 256 yards, 2 TDs).
“It’s tough. It’s tough. Again, it’s unfortunate,” Pederson said. “Can’t make excuses for it, it’s part of the game but it’s a great opportunity for the next guy.”
It has been a miserable season for the Jaguars on the field and in the medical tent. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, receivers Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis are all on injured reserve. Lawrence will undergo surgery on his shoulder after he clears concussion protocol. Guard Cooper Hodges and tight end Patrick Murtagh went on IR earlier in the year.
Pederson said he wasn’t necessarily shocked by the amount of injuries simply because of the nature of the game.
“I don’t know. I just know that football is a tough sport. It’s a violent sport and injuries are going to happen. It’s part of the game. The guys play tough and physical, and they play hard,” he said. “That’s what I ask and that’s what they do. They put their bodies on the line every single week and stuff like this happens.”