Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson provided crucial updates on Thursday regarding the status of key players tight end Evan Engram and safety Darnell Savage.
Engram, who unfortunately suffered a hamstring injury during warmups ahead of Sunday’s showdown against the visiting Cleveland Browns, remains a concern. On the other hand, Savage is on the mend from a quadriceps injury sustained during practice last week.
“Evan, he’s a little bit further away right now. We’ll just have to take it day by day,” Pederson shared with a mix of caution and hope. “Sav, we’ll practice again today and get him moving, so hopefully he’ll be available for Monday.”
As the Jaguars (0-2) gear up to face the unbeaten Buffalo Bills (2-0) in a high-stakes Monday Night Football matchup, the health of these pivotal players could be a game-changer.
Engram, 30, who had an exceptional last season with a remarkable total of 114 receptions, 963 receiving yards, and four touchdowns across 17 starts, is a critical component of the Jaguars’ offense. However, he managed just one reception in the narrow 20-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 1.
Meanwhile, sophomore tight end Brenton Strange, 23, stepped up last Sunday, achieving a career-high with three impressive catches for 65 yards in the 18-13 loss to Cleveland.
“I think it was really important for Brenton,” Pederson noted with evident pride. “You know, that’s the type of player we know he is, that he’s capable of being. He did some really good things, he played well. He also played physical, in the running game, which was nice to see and he’s been doing that since he’s been here.
“So obviously that boosts his confidence and (he) continues to grow with the offense and gets more opportunities.”
