One area the Denver Broncos hope to improve upon this season is the impact their group of tight ends make on offense. Last year, the group failed to impress and didn’t make a lot of big plays through the air. Instead of pursuing a major addition in free agency, the Broncos opted to run it back with most of their players at the position.
A big free agent signing during the 2025 offseason, Evan Engram wasn’t the ‘joker’ player the team thought he would be last season. Though in his first two games of his 2026
season with the squad, Engram has made the most of the opportunities that have gone his way.
Yesterday after practice, Head Coach Sean Payton pointed out that he was impressed with how Evan Engram was doing early on this season in his second year with the team.
“He’s doing well. He’s had a catch in each game, there’s some things he gives you in the passing game, and I think he’s blocking well, so I’m excited for him. I think he’s shown, especially in regard to protections and certain things, he gives you that threat. He’s doing well within the role,” stated Payton.
Last season, Engram caught 50 passes for 461 yards and just 1 touchdown. Those were some of the lowest production totals in his NFL career. In two games, Engram has caught five of six targets for 60 yards and a touchdown with four of those receptions moving the chains for a first down.
Payton also remarked that he was impressed with the work Engram had put in over the offseason and training camp to improve his blocking. In turn, that has led to more reps on the field and involvement in helping in the run game. Thus far, the ten-year veteran has been on the field for 57-percent of Denver’s offensive plays—a fifteen percent jump from 2025.
In addition to Engram, Payton is pleased with what third-year tight end Nate Adkins has achieved. Third in Denver’s trio of tight ends behind Adam Trautman and the aforementioned Engram, Adkins has been a versatile player for Denver’s offense and is looking to rebound after missing almost half of last year due to injury.
Thus far, he has been a key blocker to kickstart Denver’s rushing attack. Moreover, he recently flashed as a safety outlet for quarterback Bo Nix. Last week in their comeback victory over the Jaguars, Adkins had a quality performance. He hauled in three receptions on three targets for 32 yards and a touchdown.
Since signing with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2024, he has been an underrated player in the team’s offensive endeavors. Payton noted the aforementioned, but also his special teams’ abilities as something that has stood out to him early on making him a valuable member of the team.
“He does a lot of things well. He can play in the kicking game; he blocks well. I don’t want to use the word Swiss Army Knife, but he’s one of those guys where once you describe the assignment, he’s really good blocking in space. You see some of that carry over into the kicking game.”
Over the course of the season, the Broncos will need Engram and Adkins to continue to be quality contributors. With Jaylen Waddle in the fold, there will be less targets to go around for Denver’s tight end group, but if they can maximize the opportunities that come their way like they have thus far, the offense should be a lot more consistent than they were a season ago.
