JACKSONVILLE JUST CAN’T CATCH A BREAK! First, it’s the 3-10 record hanging around their necks like a bad game plan. Then QB1 Trevor Lawrence goes down for the season. And now, his security blanket, TE Evan Engram, is out. Talk about a losing streak no one wants to tackle! The Jaguars might’ve come to terms with their record, but this? This is salt in the wound.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport broke the news: #Jaguars TE Evan Engram is out for the season with a torn labrum that will need surgery, coach Doug Pederson tells reporters. Pederson confirmed the season-ending injury on Friday, sending Engram to the sidelines for good this year. Surgery is imminent, but what does it mean for Jacksonville’s already fragile offense?

And let’s not forget how we got here. It all started when Lawrence was flattened by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair in week 13. A hit so nasty it had fans questioning if Al-Shaair was playing football or a demolition derby. The result? A concussion, followed by an AC joint sprain that sealed Lawrence’s fate for 2024.

Losing their franchise QB hurt, but losing Engram too? Now the Jags’ offense is officially on injured reserve. So, what’s next? Brenton Strange is set to step into Engram’s shoes. He’s done it before, filling in earlier this season during Engram’s hamstring issues. But let’s be honest, replacing Engram isn’t just about NEXT MAN-UP. It’s about rebuilding chemistry on a team that’s already struggling to stay in sync.

Trevor Lawrence and Evan Engram: Brothers in arms…& in rehab!

It’s been a rough year for the Jaguars…By a country mile! As if it wasn’t already worse, it’s curtains on Engram’s season with 47 receptions for 365 yards and a single touchdown in nine starts. Before you, say: Huh, meh… Keep in mind, he missed four games earlier in the seasons. So, these numbers tell a story of effort, not luck.

In his three years with the Jags, Engram has stacked up 234 catches for over 2,000 yards and nine touchdowns. Those numbers scream consistency, even if the team’s record doesn’t. As for Engram’s future in Jacksonville, though? That’s murkier than a blown call in the fourth quarter. The man signed a three-year, $41.25 million deal in 2023 and delivered the second-most receptions in franchise history last year (114 for 963 yards and four TDs).

But with one year left and no guarantee on his $14.75 million salary, it’s anyone’s guess if he stays. Still, let’s give the guy his due—Engram’s more than a stat line; he’s a leader, the type to rally behind his QB. And Trevor Lawrence, personally, wouldn’t want to lose such a guy! Remember that hit on Lawrence? Al-Shaair blindsided the Jaguars’ season and their star QB. Engram wasn’t having it. “It was just a dirty play,” he said, making it clear that protecting Lawrence was personal. Engram went in, swinging fists at anyone and everyone on the gridiron, wearing Houston‘s shirt. NOT AFRAID, but with only one thing in mind.

It’s that kind of fire you want in your locker room, especially in a season as painful as this one. The Jags now face the Jets in what can only be called a battle of survivors. Not quite the showdown either team dreamed of. But here we are. Let’s see if Jacksonville can go out swinging—or at least make it interesting.