Jacksonville Jaguars have Evan Engram back. How will that open more options in passing game?

Evan Engram is back, at a crucial time for the Jacksonville Jaguars .

The eighth-year tight end, who injured his hamstring during pregame warmups before the Cleveland game in Week 2, has missed four games but appears to be ready for Sunday when the Jaguars open their two-game London trip against the Chicago Bears at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (9:30 a.m., ABC, NFL Network).

Engram has watched during his time away as the Jaguars struggled on offense in losses to the Browns, Buffalo and Houston, but then turned in a marvelous performance last week in a 37-34 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

Jaguar wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Christian Kirk have gotten open deep. Running back Tank Bigsby has delivered home-run plays. And backup tight end Brenton Strange filled in nicely, catching 12 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns.

Engram doesn't want to interrupt that rhythm. The man who set a Jaguars record at his position with 114 receptions last year (second-best in NFL history) isn't going to enter the game and demand the ball but ease in and fill whatever role is required.

"I think we've got a great game plan and whatever the coaches need me to do to help the offense be successful, that's what I'm going to do," Engram said. "If that means get downfield, I'm going to get downfield. If it's being physical in the run game, I'm going to do that. If it's underneath [pass routes] I'm going to try to dominate that as well. Whatever they ask me to do."

Trevor Lawrence eager to have Engram back

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, believes Engram will step right in and contribute.

"Obviously he's a huge part of our offense and hasn't been out there the last month or so, so we've definitely missed him and the type of player he is," Lawrence said. "I think just all the things that he does well, obviously with the ball in his hands, down the field, his speed is a threat. Getting him the ball would be great."

Engram caught one pass for 5 yards in the opening game against Miami, a blip on the radar considering he never caught fewer than four passes in a game last season and had four games of 10 catches or more.

And who would doubt that he could have made a difference in the Jaguars' red-zone struggles against the Browns or Texans.

Engram, one of the hardest-working players on the team and usually the first one on the practice field, had a streak of 50 consecutive games played (with 42 starts), dating back to his time with the New York Giants.

He is hesitant to talk about how he got injured.

"I'm not going to get into details," he said. "Something I'm not in control happened to me and that's that."

Engram happy about Brenton Strange’s progress

Engram said he has enjoyed watching Strange, who caught only five passes for 35 yards as a rookie last season, develop into another weapon for Lawrence.

"Brenton has been awesome," Engram said. "I've gained a lot of perspective sitting out and watching Brenton grow into his own. It's been a big plus for me."

Engram said Strange had all the physical skills. It's been a matter of intangibles.

"His poise, his confidence on the field," Engram listed as Strange's best attributes so far this season. "[He's] making plays for the team, big clutch plays. His confidence and poise has grown a lot. I can't want to get out there with him and make some plays together."

Strange had a solid training camp and Jaguars safety Andre Cisco agreed that it was a matter of maturing and learning for Strange.

"He's always been extremely athletic and attacked the ball well," he said. "So, I feel like just consistent growth and maybe just settling into the pro level a little bit better. I'm glad people are getting a chance to see it.”

Engram and Strange can give Jags more options

Indeed, the idea of Engram and Strange in the game together in double tight end formations is intriguing. And as dangerous as they can be over the middle and short routes, it can open even more deep shots to Thomas and Kirk.

"It's on all of us [coaches] to make sure that we're continuing every single week to maximize the matchups," said offensive coordinator Press Taylor. "If that's involving multiple tight ends and a certain look to get a certain thing out of a defense, then that's what we'll try to do. How are they going to play 12 personnel [one running back, two tight ends]? How do you play 12 personnel with Evan on the field? There's all these different things you're kind of looking into."

But none of that was possible without Engram, who has caught 188 passes for 1,734 yards and eight TDs as a Jaguar.

"We'll limit his volume, ramp him up, give him what he needs and see how he is at the end of the week," coach Doug Pederson said. "But him being back is definitely a boost for the offense.”

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars have Evan Engram back. How will that open more options in passing game?