Latest news with #Engram
USA Today
07-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Evan Engram gives his take on new quarterback Bo Nix
Evan Engram gives his take on new quarterback Bo Nix The Denver Broncos courted free agent tight end Evan Engram this spring, facing competition from the Los Angeles Chargers. Engram ended up signing with the Broncos for several reasons, including getting the chance to play with second-year quarterback Bo Nix. 'From afar, I paid attention to the Broncos," Engram said after the team's spring practice last Thursday. "Me and Davis Webb (Denver's QBs coach) had a really good relationship. We got drafted together in New York. So even just watching and supporting him, I was always really observant of Bo Nix. It was kind of obviously as a rookie, kind of a slow start last year. He was learning the game, but once he turned it on, you can see it all over the tape. Flying around for the [free agent] visits, [I] got to download some games on the laptop and watch some film. The potential is through the roof, and even better is just the way he is as a man, as a worker, as a leader. "It's been really great to get to know him on and off the field. I just love the way he approaches each and every day. I love the way he builds relationships with his teammates. I had lunch with him on my visit here. So he made it a point to be here and meet me. Even that lunch, I was able to just kind of listen to his process and things that he's working on. Just really impressive young guy. Like I said, the potential is through the roof, and I like to see myself as someone that can come in and help his development and take this team to another level.' Nix quickly made a good impression on Engram -- both on film and in person. The QB-TE duo will now aim to build on Denver's offensive success from last fall. Nix was invited to the Pro Bowl as an alternate last season after topping 4,200 yards from scrimmage and scoring 34 touchdowns. Engram was hindered by injuries for much of 2024, but he's just two years removed from a 114-catch, 963-yard campaign in 2023. Engram figures to serve as one of Nix's key targets in 2025, and their chemistry appears to be off to a good start. Fans will get to see the duo in action for the first time this summer at Broncos training camp (dates TBA). Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Evan Engram embraces the "Joker" role in the Broncos' offense
Evan Engram entered the NFL eight years ago, as a first-round pick of the Giants. Cut by the Jaguars after five years in New York and three in Jacksonville, Engram has landed with the Broncos. He was asked on Thursday why he chose Denver. Advertisement 'Everything about it," Engram told reporters. "With that question, I could be here for days. Denver was the first team to call when I got cut. Just talking with them and getting to know them, then getting here, getting into the building and feeling the energy here. Meeting some of the guys, hanging out with the coaches and hanging out with the front office. Just the expectations that are here, the team that is here, the quarterback that is here and the coach that is here. I could go on for days. I'm blessed to be here. Everything happens for a reason, and I'm really glad to be in Denver.' He picked the Broncos after making an initial visit to the Chargers. "It's a great organization there, as well," Engram said. "I had a great visit with them, but the best place for me and my family was here in Denver. Just with the offense, the history here, the way the organization takes care of its players. Like I said, I could go on all day. I'm really blessed to be here. It was a crazy process, and I just credit God for putting me in the place that he sees fit.' His fit in Denver will be playing the versatile "Joker" role in coach Sean Payton's offense. Advertisement 'That is a cool thing to just embrace," Engram said. "Sean talks about it a lot. It was a big part of the pitch coming here. . . . I definitely see that it is something that has to be earned with the way I work and the way that I learn the offense to gain the trust of Sean, Bo [Nix], and the rest of the coaches and players. I think we have a bunch of 'Jokers' on this team, honestly, that can have a great role on this offense. It is definitely something that I like to embrace, but it is also something that I am going to earn, too.' He can become an important piece of the overall effort to close the gap with the Chiefs. Which the Broncos quite possibly could do in 2025, after making it to the playoffs in Payton's second season with the team.
NBC Sports
06-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Evan Engram embraces the "Joker" role in the Broncos' offense
Evan Engram entered the NFL eight years ago, as a first-round pick of the Giants. Cut by the Jaguars after five years in New York and three in Jacksonville, Engram has landed with the Broncos. He was asked on Thursday why he chose Denver. 'Everything about it,' Engram told reporters. 'With that question, I could be here for days. Denver was the first team to call when I got cut. Just talking with them and getting to know them, then getting here, getting into the building and feeling the energy here. Meeting some of the guys, hanging out with the coaches and hanging out with the front office. Just the expectations that are here, the team that is here, the quarterback that is here and the coach that is here. I could go on for days. I'm blessed to be here. Everything happens for a reason, and I'm really glad to be in Denver.' He picked the Broncos after making an initial visit to the Chargers. 'It's a great organization there, as well,' Engram said. 'I had a great visit with them, but the best place for me and my family was here in Denver. Just with the offense, the history here, the way the organization takes care of its players. Like I said, I could go on all day. I'm really blessed to be here. It was a crazy process, and I just credit God for putting me in the place that he sees fit.' His fit in Denver will be playing the versatile 'Joker' role in coach Sean Payton's offense. 'That is a cool thing to just embrace,' Engram said. 'Sean talks about it a lot. It was a big part of the pitch coming here. . . . I definitely see that it is something that has to be earned with the way I work and the way that I learn the offense to gain the trust of Sean, Bo [Nix], and the rest of the coaches and players. I think we have a bunch of 'Jokers' on this team, honestly, that can have a great role on this offense. It is definitely something that I like to embrace, but it is also something that I am going to earn, too.' He can become an important piece of the overall effort to close the gap with the Chiefs. Which the Broncos quite possibly could do in 2025, after making it to the playoffs in Payton's second season with the team.
San Francisco Chronicle
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Evan Engram embraces Sean Payton's 'Joker' role but says it's something he has to earn in Denver
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Don't call Evan Engram the 'Joker' just yet. The ninth-year tight end has embraced coach Sean Payton's vision of him as a versatile player who can create mismatches for Denver's offense, led by second-year QB Bo Nix. When he signed a two-year, $23 million deal in the spring, Engram took to X and posted a GIF of the late Heath Ledger's Oscar-winning performance as the Joker in 'The Dark Knight.' On Thursday, however, Engram said he still needs to earn the moniker. 'That is a cool thing to just embrace," Engram said. "Sean talks about it a lot. It was a big part of the pitch coming here. The fans are great here, so (the social media post) was just embracing that narrative a little bit. I definitely see that it is something that has to be earned with the way I work and the way that I learn the offense to gain the trust of Sean, Bo and the rest of the coaches and players. "I think we have a bunch of Jokers on this team, honestly, that can have a great role on this offense. It is definitely something that I like to embrace, but it is also something that I am going to earn, too.' Actually, Engram is probably the only member of the Broncos offense who fits Payton's description of the Joker. Last year, Payton described the Joker as 'either a running back or tight end with exceptional ball skills and then you can work matchups. We've had that at the running back (position). Reggie Bush was the Joker, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara. Those were all unique players, not just in the running game, but they had passing game skill sets that allowed you to do multiple things.' Payton was hoping tight end Greg Dulcich would turn into his Joker last season, but his propensity to drop passes squelched that notion and led to his release. So, Payton entered free agency this year intent on landing the traditional hallmark of his offense, and he did so when Engram signed with the Broncos after three seasons in Jacksonville and five with the New York Giants. Before Engram agreed to Denver's offer, Payton and the rest of the Broncos' brain trust had to sweat through Engram's subsequent visit with the AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers. 'Free agency is a crazy roller coaster,' said Engram, who was the 23rd overall pick by the Giants in 2017. 'I took a visit to LA. It's a great organization there, as well. I had a great visit with them, but the best place for me and my family was here in Denver. Just with the offense, the history here, the way the organization takes care of its players.' On Thursday, the final day of organized team activities open to the media, Engram ran routes with receivers, not tight ends, and he stood out for his fluidity and his jersey number. Asked why he chose No. 1, Engram said it was his number in high school. At Mississippi he wore No. 17, a number he revived with the Jaguars. So when the Broncos sent him a list of available numbers after he signed, he relayed the list to his family members, who all concurred he should wear No. 1 again. 'It's a cool thing just to reconnect to the glory days of high school football,' Engram said. Dobbins to Denver? The Broncos could be adding a veteran running back to their roster. Free agent J.K. Dobbins plans to visit Denver a week ahead of the team's mandatory minincamp. 'We'll have a chance to visit with him and then we'll see where it goes,' Payton said. 'We really like the group right now that we're working with. It's just another opportunity to possibly bring in another good football player to help us win." The Broncos drafted R.J. Harvey out of Central Florida in the second round of the NFL draft in April. He is viewed as a potential three-down back and leads a relatively young group of rushers that includes second-year pros Blake Watson and Audric Estime, third-year player Jaleel McLaughlin and fourth-year pro Tyler Badie. Dobbins gained a career-best 905 yards on 195 carries and tied his career high with nine rushing touchdowns last year with the Chargers despite missing four games with a sprained knee. If he signs, Dobbins could become a big contributor in the Broncos' backfield. The former second-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens has an extensive injury history, including an ACL tear in 2021 and a torn Achilles tendon in 2023.
Hamilton Spectator
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Evan Engram embraces Sean Payton's ‘Joker' role but says it's something he has to earn in Denver
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Don't call Evan Engram the 'Joker' just yet. The ninth-year tight end has embraced coach Sean Payton's vision of him as a versatile player who can create mismatches for Denver's offense, led by second-year QB Bo Nix. When he signed a two-year, $23 million deal in the spring, Engram took to X and posted a GIF of the late Heath Ledger's Oscar-winning performance as the Joker in 'The Dark Knight.' On Thursday, however, Engram said he still needs to earn the moniker. 'That is a cool thing to just embrace,' Engram said. 'Sean talks about it a lot. It was a big part of the pitch coming here. The fans are great here, so (the social media post) was just embracing that narrative a little bit. I definitely see that it is something that has to be earned with the way I work and the way that I learn the offense to gain the trust of Sean, Bo and the rest of the coaches and players. 'I think we have a bunch of Jokers on this team, honestly, that can have a great role on this offense. It is definitely something that I like to embrace, but it is also something that I am going to earn, too.' Actually, Engram is probably the only member of the Broncos offense who fits Payton's description of the Joker. Last year, Payton described the Joker as 'either a running back or tight end with exceptional ball skills and then you can work matchups. We've had that at the running back (position). Reggie Bush was the Joker, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara. Those were all unique players, not just in the running game, but they had passing game skill sets that allowed you to do multiple things.' Payton was hoping tight end Greg Dulcich would turn into his Joker last season, but his propensity to drop passes squelched that notion and led to his release. So, Payton entered free agency this year intent on landing the traditional hallmark of his offense, and he did so when Engram signed with the Broncos after three seasons in Jacksonville and five with the New York Giants. Before Engram agreed to Denver's offer, Payton and the rest of the Broncos' brain trust had to sweat through Engram's subsequent visit with the AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers. 'Free agency is a crazy roller coaster,' said Engram, who was the 23rd overall pick by the Giants in 2017. 'I took a visit to LA. It's a great organization there, as well. I had a great visit with them, but the best place for me and my family was here in Denver. Just with the offense, the history here, the way the organization takes care of its players.' On Thursday, the final day of organized team activities open to the media, Engram ran routes with receivers, not tight ends, and he stood out for his fluidity and his jersey number. Asked why he chose No. 1, Engram said it was his number in high school. At Mississippi he wore No. 17, a number he revived with the Jaguars. So when the Broncos sent him a list of available numbers after he signed, he relayed the list to his family members, who all concurred he should wear No. 1 again. 'It's a cool thing just to reconnect to the glory days of high school football,' Engram said. Dobbins to Denver? The Broncos could be adding a veteran running back to their roster. Free agent J.K. Dobbins plans to visit Denver a week ahead of the team's mandatory minincamp. 'We'll have a chance to visit with him and then we'll see where it goes,' Payton said. 'We really like the group right now that we're working with. It's just another opportunity to possibly bring in another good football player to help us win.' The Broncos drafted R.J. Harvey out of Central Florida in the second round of the NFL draft in April. He is viewed as a potential three-down back and leads a relatively young group of rushers that includes second-year pros Blake Watson and Audric Estime, third-year player Jaleel McLaughlin and fourth-year pro Tyler Badie. Dobbins gained a career-best 905 yards on 195 carries and tied his career high with nine rushing touchdowns last year with the Chargers despite missing four games with a sprained knee. If he signs, Dobbins could become a big contributor in the Broncos' backfield. The former second-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens has an extensive injury history, including an ACL tear in 2021 and a torn Achilles tendon in 2023. ___ AP NFL:
