The Jaguars are getting a key cog back in their offense today. In preparation for tomorrow’s matchup with the Cardinals, the Jacksonville has activated tight end Brenton Strange from injured reserve. 
The team also announced defensive tackle Matt Dickerson and safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig as standard gameday practice squad elevations for tomorrow. Dickerson was called up as an elevation last week, but Silmon-Craig will be making his NFL debut if the undrafted rookie out of Colorado sees the field in Arizona.
Strange has been an interesting weapon in Duval since getting drafted in the second round two years ago from Penn State. As a rookie sharing a position room with Evan Engram and Luke Farrell, Strange mostly heard his named called as a second tight end in heavy run packages. By Year 2, Strange passed up Farrell on the depth chart, and though his strengths came as a run blocking tight end, he dominated the field time during stretches missed by Engram due to injury, reeling in 40 receptions for 411 yards and two touchdowns as a result.
With Engram and Farrell no longer on the roster, Strange was expected to have a breakout year in 2025. After he exited Jacksonville’s Week 5 game with a quad injury, the team predicted at least a five-week absence. With five weekends having passed between that prediction and now, it’s safe to say they nailed that call.
Over his extended absence, the Jaguars haven’t really seen a tight end step up to fill his void. Veteran Johnny Mundt has done an admirable job of taking up Strange’s duties as a blocking tight end, and Hunter Long has gotten some run, as well, but quarterback Trevor Lawrence hasn’t really looked their way in the passing game. The two combine for 19 catches on 32 targets, totaling 168 yards and two touchdowns. In four and a half games before injury, Strange, alone, tallied 20 catches on eight fewer targets for 204 yards.
Lawrence should be happy to get Strange back in the lineup. Since Strange last played in early-October, Lawrence has seen rookie No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter‘s season ended, and his top target, Brian Thomas Jr., has already been ruled out for the third game in a row. Strange will be added to a passing attack now led by receivers Parker Washington and Dyami Brown.
Strange development.
Isn’t nfl life Strange?