Englewood, Colorado (AP) – Don't refer to Evan Engram as the “Joker.”
The ninth-year tight end has fully embraced his coach Sean Payton's vision as a dynamic player capable of adding variability to Denver's offense, which is orchestrated by second-year QB Bo Nix.
When he inked a 23 million dollar contract over two years this spring, Engram took to X and X, sharing a gif of the late Heath Ledger's Academy Award-winning Joker from “The Dark Knight.”
However, on Thursday, Engram mentioned that he still needs to earn a nickname.
“It's nice to get the recognition,” Engram remarked. “Shaun speaks about it frequently. It was a major part of my decision to come here. The fans are incredible, so my social media posts have been celebrating the storyline.”
“Honestly, I believe there are many Jokers on this team. It could play a significant role in our offense. I’m definitely open to it, but I also get that it’s a shared responsibility.”
In reality, Engram may be the only player in the Broncos’ offense that aligns with the Joker archetype.
Last year, Payton explained that the Joker “can operate as either a running back or a tight end with exceptional ball skills.” Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles, and Alvin Kamara were all examples at the running back position.
Payton had aimed to develop tight end Greg Dulcich into the Joker role last season, but his struggles with drops derailed that plan and resulted in his departure.
This year, Payton entered free agency with the goal of acquiring the traditional elements of his offense, successfully signing Engram from the Jacksonville Jaguars after five seasons with the New York Giants.
Before Engram accepted Denver’s offer, the coaching staff anxiously awaited the outcome of his visit with their AFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers.
“Free agency is a wild ride,” Engram noted, who was selected 23rd overall by the Giants in 2017. “I checked out Los Angeles, which is also a fantastic organization.”
On Thursday, during the final day of organized team activities, Engram showcased his versatility by running routes with the wide receivers instead of the tight ends.
When asked about his choice of No. 1, Engram shared that it was his high school number. In Mississippi, he sported the revived No. 17 with the Jaguars. When the Broncos sent him a list of available numbers after his signing, he excitedly shared the options with his family.
“It’s just a joy to reconnect with the high school glory days,” Engram expressed.
Dobbins to Denver?
The Broncos are exploring the addition of veteran running backs to their roster. Free agent JK Dobbins is scheduled to visit Denver just ahead of the team’s mandatory mini-camp.
“We're looking forward to meeting with him and will see where it leads,” Payton mentioned. “We're pleased with our current group, but bringing in another talented player could help us achieve success.”
The Broncos drafted RJ Harvey from Central Florida in the second round of the April NFL Draft, seen as a possible three-down back among a relatively young stable of rushers that includes second-year players Blake Watson and Audrik Estim, third-year pro Jayrell McLaughlin, and fourth-year veteran Tyler Buddy.
Dobbins had a career year last season, accumulating 905 yards on 195 carries and achieving a personal best with nine rushing touchdowns.
If signed, Dobbins could significantly bolster the Broncos’ backfield. However, past second-round picks by the Baltimore Ravens have faced substantial injury challenges, including a torn ACL in 2021 and a torn Achilles tendon in 2023.
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Source: apnews.com