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Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram undergoes shoulder surgery, Pederson talks development
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- Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram undergoes shoulder surgery, Pederson talks development
The Jacksonville Jaguars are relatively healthy heading into their final three games .
The team has lost several starters on the offensive side of the ball over the last few weeks, but they have maintained their health after last week's loss to the New York Jets .
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Tight end Evan Engram was the latest player to be placed on injured reserve and he underwent successful shoulder surgery Monday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence underwent shoulder surgery on Tuesday, head coach Doug Pederson announced Wednesday.
Engram was placed on injured reserve last week.
ROAD TO RECOVERY: Trevor Lawrence undergoes successful shoulder surgery, Jacksonville Jaguars' Pederson says
The rest of the team, though, is healthy and ready to play through the final three weeks of the season.
"We're in a pretty good spot," Pederson said Wednesday, noting that tight end Brenton Strange is dealing with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder but will be fine, working limited this week.
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Pederson also mentioned offensive linemen Mitch Morse and Brandon Scherff are dealing with injuries, but they're good to go this week against the Las Vegas Raiders . Both players could be limited this week during practice.
Jaguars bench CB Ronald Darby in favor of Buster Brown
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown (30) celebrates his interception during the second quarter an NFL football matchup Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
After being one of three players to not play a single snap on Sunday, Jaguars cornerback Ronald Darby might continue to take a back seat.
Pederson said Monday that Darby's benching was not discipline related but he made sure to bring up Montaric "Buster" Brown and his snap increase.
"I just think Buster's been playing well, and really just giving him an opportunity right now," said Pederson.
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Pederson said the team will keep Brown opposite cornerback Tyson Campbell moving forward through the final three games of the season.
The Jaguars signed Darby to a two-year, $8.5 million contract with a $3 million signing bonus.
He began the season as one of the team's starting corners but his snap count has steadily declined since Week 10 until he was an active-scratch against the Jets. Darby was seen fully dressed out but did not enter the game.
Throughout the season Darby and Brown have split time opposite Campbell. Brown's snap count has increased, giving the younger player an opportunity to prove himself capable moving forward.
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"I think you'll see Buster and hopefully get a chance to see Tre [CB De'Antre Prince] and just kind of see where he's at as well. But yeah, Buster's been playing really well," said Pederson.
Pederson believes final three games can dictate Jaguars' future
The Jaguars aren't voluntarily going anywhere after the regular season is over. They won't be in the playoffs. At 3-11, it would be surprising to see many stick around for longer than they need to on the Monday following the season.
Still, the final three games of the year can dictate what the team could look like moving forward, into the 2025 season.
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"We know our situation, we got it. We understand that. But I think these next three weeks really can set us up for the future, for the offseason, for next year and how we can build and where we need to add pieces and all of that kind of stuff, the development of our roster," Pederson said.
Pederson mentioned a comment tight end Brenton Strange made, saying that he wants to get back to work and is happy to do it even through a terrible season. He said that Strange is the type of player you want on the team.
"You want those football players that love being here in this building soaking up football, soaking up ball, love being on the grass," said Pederson. "Those are the guys you can build your team around. He's one of several, obviously, and many that we have on the team that can do that."
The Jaguars travel to Las Vegas before returning home to face the Tennessee Titans , finishing up the season on the road against the Indianapolis Colts .
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Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars' Evan Engram undergoes labrum surgery, no timeline on return
