Evan Engram vows to be much improved next season.

After catching 114 passes for 963 yards for Jacksonville in 2023 and then having 47 receptions for 365 yards in nine games during an injury-riddled 2024 with the Jaguars, the Broncos last March signed the tight end to a two-year, $23 million contract.

Engram was expected to be the “Joker” player that Denver coach Sean Payton coveted to exploit matchups. But he caught a so-so 50 passes for 461 yards in 16 regular-season games and had three catches for 27 yards in two playoff games.

“I’ll definitely be a better football player next season for sure,’’ Engram told The Denver Gazette after Sunday’s 10-7 loss to New England in the AFC Championship Game at Empower Field.

Engram missed the last four games in 2024 after suffering a torn labrum in his shoulder and having surgery. He said one reason he expects to be better in 2026 is he will have an entire offseason to work out after having spent time recovering early last year.

“It’s a blessing to go into the offseason being fully healthy,’’ said Engram, 31. “I’m looking forward to getting back and proving I’ll be back next year.”

Despite Sunday’s loss, Engram said he really enjoyed being with the Broncos in 2025. After having gotten into just two playoff games during his first eight seasons with the New York Giants and Jaguars, he advanced to a conference title game for the first time in his career.

“I love playing with these guys,’’ Engram said. “I love the locker room, the team. I love coming to work with these boys every single day, and we had a great season. (Sunday’s loss) hurts because everybody deserves to move forward.”

Mims steps up at receiver

With the Broncos down two key receivers, Marvin Mims Jr. did what he could.

Mims caught four passes for 62 yards. That included a 52-yard grab from Jarrett Stidham early in the first quarter that led to 6-yard touchdown pass from Stidham to Courtland Sutton for a 7-0 lead.

“Huge play,’’ Mims told The Denver Gazette “It was pretty good, but at the end of the day, it was not enough.”

While Mims is the Broncos’ No. 3 receiver, the Broncos were without No. 2 Troy Franklin, who sat out with a hamstring injury, and they lost No. 4 Pat Bryant for the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. That followed Denver in a 33-30 overtime divisional playoff win over Buffalo losing Franklin for the game in the second quarter and Bryant in the first quarter with his second concussion in a month. Bryant on Sunday became the first Broncos player to wear a guardian cap in a game.

“It’s kind of like the last game, with different (receivers) having to go to different spots,’’ Mims said. “I thought we did well (Sunday), but at the end of the day, it wasn’t enough.”

With the Broncos knowing Franklin would be out, they elevated Elijah Moore from the practice squad Saturday. But Moore, as the No. 5 receiver, had just one catch for four yards.

Due to Denver’s injury problems at receiver, Mims said that is why he wasn’t used for kickoff returns. The Broncos instead used running backs Tyler Badie and RJ Harvey, with Badie having their only return for 20 yards. Mims has a three-year career average of 26.6.

“It’s just me playing more offense, and I was on punt return,’’ said Mims, who returned three punts for eight yards.

Mims said the weather, with the field covered by snow in the fourth quarter, was a big factor Sunday.

“It was pretty difficult, and I think the bigger part of it was the wind,’’ Mims said. “It was hard trying to come back in that weather but (the Patriots) had to play in the same weather, so that’s not an excuse.”

Referee explains call

Referee Alex Kemp explained a call to a pool report that left Payton and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel both wondering what was going on.

With the Broncos leading 7-0 and facing third-and-4 at their 33 with 2:59 left in the second quarter, Stidham dropped back to pass and was hit by linebacker Christian Elliss while trying to get rid of the ball. It was first ruled an intentional grounding penalty before the call was changed to a fumble, with New England’s Elijah Ponder recovering it at the Denver 12, and Elliss getting a 21-yard sack.

“I initially ruled it as a forward pass, which was incorrect,’’ Kept told the pool reporter. “I proceeded to go through the administration of an intentional grounding foul. The down judge and the umpire came and talked to me and provided more information. The down judge explained that he extended his right arm to signal that he had a backward pass and at that point we determined that New England had picked up the then backward pass.”

Kemp said a whistle stopped the play after Ponder had picked up the ball and headed for the end zone, but that the whistle meant the ball could not be advanced. Had that whistle not incorrectly been blown, Ponder would have had a touchdown. But Patriots quarterback Drake Maye scored two plays later on a 6-yard run.

Briefly

While Maye completed just 10 of 21 passes for 86 yards and was sacked five times, he hurt the Broncos with his legs, rushing 10 times for 65 yards. “It was critical,’’ said outside linebacker Nik Bonitto. “We talked about rushing the right way all week and with the athlete he is there was only so much we could do to keep him in the pocket. He found ways to find lanes.” … Denver’s Jeremy Crawshaw averaged an impressive 51.5 yards on six punts, with a long of 60. … Broncos starting center Luke Wattenberg returned after missing three games with a left shoulder injury and played the entire game. … In addition to Franklin, inactive for Denver were center Alex Forsyth (ankle), safety JL Skinner (quad), linebacker Karene Reid, defensive linemen Jordan Jackson and Sai’vion Jones and wide receiver Michael Bandy, who was elevated from the practice squad Saturday to give him a full game check.