Evan Engram — Week 3: Two Third-Down Targets, None Caught
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Monday, Sep 28
Engram was targeted twice, both on third down from the Denver 38, and neither was caught; each was followed by a punt, the second with 7:13 left, down 19–16. A third incompletion his way, on third and 5 at the Los Angeles 5 with 1:01 left, drew the illegal-use-of-hands flag that set up the winning score, in a 30–26 win over the Rams.
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26 to 23, Rams, a minute one left in the fourth quarter, third and five at the Los Angeles five. Bo Nix threw short left for Evan Engram, incomplete, and Quentin Lake was flagged for illegal use of hands: first and goal at the two instead of fourth and five. +1.9 expected points added on the play as it was scored — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — and 10.2 points of win probability, the chance of winning the game after the play against before it. Nix scored the winning touchdown from the one 13 seconds later. Because the penalty wiped out the snap, it is not in Engram's line.
The line: two targets, no catches, −3.3 expected points on them. Both came on third down from the Denver 38, and both ended possessions. The first was third and four on Denver's first drive of the second half, down 16 to nothing, short left, and Denver punted. The second was third and two with seven 13 left in the fourth, down 19 to 16, short left, and after that punt the Rams' next possession ended in Talanoa Hufanga's interception return for the touchdown that put Denver ahead.
Two of Nix's 34 throws. Nate Adkins, the other tight end, also had two, and caught one for the eight-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Back in June the preview put Engram on the watchlist: 50 catches and one touchdown last season, the volume as the repeatable part and the roster spot as the risk. Week One was five targets, four catches and Denver's only touchdown. Week Two was one target for 17 yards. Sunday was two targets and none caught. Three games: eight targets, five catches, 60 yards, one touchdown. The share that the Week One episode called the more durable part has been five, then one, then two. Denver is at the 49ers on Sunday the fourth.
_Data via nflverse._
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