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Evan Engram enjoying second Pro Bowl, spending time with Jaguars teammates
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- Evan Engram enjoying second Pro Bowl, spending time with Jaguars teammates
A few minutes into his media availability during Friday's practice at the Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram felt an imposing presence near his scrum.
It was his teammate, outside linebacker Josh Allen , who began standing awkwardly close to him. He stood over his shoulder to the point where Engram apologized to the media for "being interrupted by someone very rude" and threw a playful elbow jab toward Allen.
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It was a small moment, but a snapshot of the way Engram is relishing his second time around at the Pro Bowl.
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Coming off the best statistical season of his career, he's enjoying the feeling of being back around the league's best stars and a few of his Jaguars' teammates.
He and Allen have been hanging out pretty much the whole week and he went golfing with long snapper Ross Matiscik on Thursday morning.
"Ross was dialed [in]," Engram said. "I'm trying to make swing adjustments. I'm out there practicing; Ross was dialed in though. I'm trying to get on his level."
Jacksonville Jaguars' tight end Evan Engram participates in Friday practices during the Pro Bowl Games of his career.
It's a different feel this week to when he was selected to the event in 2020 as a member of the New York Giants . There were covid protocols that limited a lot of the sociability of the event.
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But now, he's taking in all the events and games, including helping the AFC offensive players win dodgeball on Thursday night.
"I went into it trying to be conservative and play safe to stay alive, and then I got too aggressive and somebody got me," he said on Friday during the AFC's practice. "I was aiming at somebody and somebody snuck me from the right and got me.
"I thought I was gonna be the last guy standing, but our team won so I did my part."
Engram was announced as a reserve to replace Chiefs' tight end Travis Kelce who'll be competing in the Super Bowl next weekend. An argument could've been made for him to be selected outright, though.
Jacksonville Jaguars' tight end Evan Engram participates in Friday practices during the Pro Bowl Games of his career.
He had 114 catches which was the most among tight ends (fourth-most as a pass catcher) and was third among tight ends with 963 yards and four touchdowns. Engram was the most reliable target for Jacksonville down the stretch and is only the second Jaguars' player to top 100 catches in a single season.
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"A lot of credit to just guys and my teammates, my coaches, my trainers, my team that have put around myself. And just the just the focus I've had all year," Engram said when asked if he's had a chance to reflect on how special of a season it was for him. "Obviously the end result needs to be better. I wanted to be better. But definitely really proud of the work I've put together and just trying to be consistent.
"[I'm] trying to do that again next year, with more wins for sure."
Engram, Allen, Matiscik and the rest of the AFC stars will be competing in the Pro Bowl Games on Sunday at 3 p.m. and can be watched on ESPN, ABC, DISNEY XD, ESPN+, ESPN DEPORTES and NFL+.
Juston Lewis is a Jacksonville Jaguars beat reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JustonLewis_ .
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Evan Engram is proud of his 114 catches, Pro Bowl Games selection
