Jaguars Rookie TE Boerkircher Posts Highlight Grab For First TD

The Jacksonville Jaguars were one of the most-criticized teams following this past year's draft, with General Manager James Gladstone making some surprising selections.

But, to this point, multiple rookies have made instant impacts, including offensive guard Emmanuel Pregnon and tight end Nate Boerkircher.

Through the opening six weeks, Boerkircher has been among the rookie leaders at his position in snaps, helping the Jaguars expand their offensive scheme and employ heavier packages.

On Sunday, in Jacksonville's tight 34-31 loss against the Houston Texans, Boerkircher finally found the endzone, making a spectacular grab for his first career touchdown.

On first down from the Texans' one-yard line, starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence took a shotgun snap and began running up the middle like a designed QB run.

But, as he got closer to the line of scrimmage, Lawrence looked up and floated a pass to Boerkircher over the middle.

Like an NBA center, Boerkircher boxed out the smaller defender, and extended for an impressive one-handed grab.

As the London crowd roared with excitement, Boerkircher celebrated with his teammates, hopping up and delivering a Rob Gronkowski-esque spike to commemorate his first score.

Boerkircher remains a minor part of the overall passing attack, but his development as a redzone target is very intriguing.

Last Wednesday, head coach Liam Coen spoke on his first-year pass catcher and what he was brought to the table thus far.

"He's reliable, tough, and smart for a rookie," Coen said.

Following Jacksonville's selection of Boerkircher, the media jumped on the team's front office, calling it a major reach.

Boerkircher did go much before he was originally projected, taken No. 56 overall when he was anticipated to go in the third or fourth round.

After being picked, Boerkircher said the negative media attention his early pick has received only added fuel to the fire.

"It's kind of impossible to ignore. It is what it is, it doesn't bother me," Boerkircher told Radio 1010XL's "Jaguars Today" show. "Being a walk-on, I wasn't super highly recruited out of the portal even. I've always been kind of an underdog.

With Travis Etienne departing in free agency, the run game was a question mark for this year's team, but the consistent blocking from Boerkircher and other key players up front has allowed Bhayshul Tuten to have a very strong start to the season.

With back-to-back weeks hauling in multiple receptions, Boerkircher continues to find ways to be effective, and will always provide value as a blocker.

Heading into the middle of the season, having depth in the trenches is a big benefit.