By Mike Bonts
JACKSONVILLE (Florida Sports Wire) – The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed the franchise tag on tight end Evan Engram.
Engram, 6-3, 238, appeared in all 17 regular season games with 14 starts in his first season in Jacksonville in 2022. He totaled career-highs in receptions (73) and receiving yards (766) and posted four touchdowns. Engram’s 73 receptions and 766 receiving yards both marked single season franchise records by a tight end. In six seasons in the NFL, Engram has posted 335 career receptions, 3,594 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns.
Engram was originally drafted by the New York Giants in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2017 draft from Ole Miss. He started 42 of 45 games as a Rebel and is the school’s all-time leader in receptions (162), receiving yards (2,320) and touchdown receptions (15) by tight ends.
JAGUARS RIDLEY REINSTATED BY THE NFL
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley was reinstated to the Jaguars’ active roster, the National Football League announced. Acquired via trade by the Jaguars on Nov. 1, Ridley, 28, has 248 career receptions for 3,342 yards and 28 TDs in 49 games spanning four seasons with the Falcons.
“Today’s reinstatement by the NFL brings an end to a challenging chapter of my professional career, one that was self-inflicted and began with an isolated lapse in judgement,” Ridley said.” I have always owned my mistakes, and this is no different. I have great respect for the game and am excited for the opportunity to restart my career in Jacksonville. I look forward to showing my new coaches, teammates, and the entire Jaguars organization exactly who I am and what I represent as a player and person.”
JAGUARS EXTEND ROBERTSON-HARRIS AND HASTY
The Jaguars have signed defensive linemen Roy Robertson-Harris and running backJamycal Hasty to contract extensions.
Robertson-Harris originally signed with the Jaguars in 2021 and has appeared in 31 games with 30 starts the past two seasons in Jacksonville. He set career-highs in total tackles (45), tackles for loss (seven) quarterback hits (12) and passes defensed (four) in 2022.
In the Jaguars two postseason contests, Robertson-Harris had 14 total tackles, 1.0 sack, five tackles for loss and two passes defensed. The Oakland, Calif. native spent the first four seasons of his career with Chicago and has played in 83 games in his seven-year career. He has amassed 156 total tackles including 13.5 sacks and 20 tackles for loss.
Hasty played in all 17 regular season games and both postseason games for the Jaguars in 2022 after being claimed off of waivers on Aug. 31, 2022.
In his first season with Jacksonville, he recorded career highs in scrimmage yards (320), rushing yards (194), carries (46) and rushing TDs (2). The Longview, Texas native entered the league with the 49ers and played in 19 games with San Francisco from 2020-21.
NICK HOLZ NAMED PASSING GAME COORDINATOR
The Jacksonville hired passing game coordinator Nick Holz. Holz joins Jacksonville after spending the 2022 season as UNLV’s offensive coordinator.
Prior to his post at UNLV, Holz coached with the Las Vegas Raiders from 2012-21 in a variety of roles on the offensive side of the ball. Holz served as the team’s assistant receivers coach (2017, 2021), offensive quality control coach (2015-16, 2018-20) and worked alongside the offensive staff from 2012-14.
While with the Raiders, Holz helped the development of receiver Hunter Renfrow, who earned his first trip to the NFL Pro Bowl in 2021 after posting career-highs in catches (103), receiving yards (1,038) and touchdowns (nine).
Prior to coaching with the Raiders, Holz was an offensive assistant at Stanford (2008-11), helping QB Andrew Luck earn first-team All-America honors and two Heisman Trophy runner-up finishes.
Holz’s coaching career began in 2007 at Nebraska, where he served as an offensive quality control coach and video intern.
Originally from Danville, Calif., Holz earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Colorado where he was a three-year letterwinner as a wide receiver and holder.
Notes: The Jaguars have waived QB E.J. Perry and released cornerback Shaquill Griffin,
