The Jaguars are on the verge of locking in a date that could define their season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars made it clear they didn’t see Evan Engram as part of their long-term future, cutting ties with the tight end just before free agency began. Engram quickly found a new home with the Denver Broncos, and he’ll be out to prove the Jaguars made a major mistake letting him walk. Ironically, he won’t have to wait long for revenge—Denver and Jacksonville are set to clash during the 2025 season.
If a recent leak from Twitter user @NerdigonNFL is accurate, that showdown is scheduled for Week 16. Not only will it be a revenge game for Engram, but it could carry serious playoff implications for both sides.
Last season, Denver posted a solid 10-7 record with rookie quarterback Bo Nix leading the charge. Though they were trounced by the Bills in the Wild Card round, the Broncos still made it to the postseason—something the Jaguars, who limped to a 4-13 finish, couldn’t say.
The AFC West remains fiercely competitive, with the Chiefs and Chargers both gunning for playoff spots. Still, Denver has reason to be optimistic. Nix improved steadily throughout his rookie campaign and now enters 2025 with valuable experience—and a new weapon in Engram.
While Courtland Sutton remains the team’s top target, Engram provides Nix with a much-needed safety valve. A former first-round pick out of Ole Miss, Engram showed flashes early in his career with the Giants but truly flourished in Jacksonville, especially during the 2022 season when he set career highs in catches and receiving yards and broke several franchise records.
That breakout led to a lucrative three-year, $42.5 million extension. He followed it up with an even better 2023, including 114 receptions—the third-most by a tight end in a single season. But injuries hampered his availability, and backup Brenton Strange stepped up in his absence.
Given Strange’s emergence and a cap hit north of $7 million, the Jaguars opted to release Engram and clear $5.9 million in space. Denver swooped in with a two-year offer, seizing the chance to add a dynamic threat to their offense.
Now, the Jaguars have a chance to validate their decision in Week 16. Under new head coach Liam Coen, Jacksonville’s offense is shifting away from tight end-heavy schemes. With young receivers like Brian Thomas Jr., Dyami Brown, and rookie Travis Hunter in the mix, Strange likely won’t see the volume Engram once did—and even if Engram had stayed, his blocking limitations may have reduced his snaps behind Strange.
Jacksonville is pivoting toward a ground-and-pound identity, and in that scheme, Engram became more of a luxury than a necessity. Could he still contribute? Sure. But when the Jaguars face the Broncos, they’ll have an opportunity to show they’re better off without him—and that moving on was the right call.
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