Tim Tebow has been blasted for his NFL comeback, his attempted conversion from quarterback to tight end, and his almost purely nepotism-fueled training camp audition for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Then again, maybe Urban Meyer’s close relationship to Tebow wasn’t the only reason the 33-year-old veteran was invited to Duval County for a chance to make the roster.
At Friday’s practice, Tebow hauled in a nifty touchdown catch off a pass from reigning No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence:
Now, let’s not get carried away about a training camp red zone practice rep, but Tebow went down to get that ball, created enough separation and secure the ball in the scoring area.
There’s no questioning Tebow’s work ethic, toughness, and athleticism for the tight end position. It’s more a matter of whether he’s able to physically hold up to the punishment he’ll endure at the point of attack as a blocker, and how quickly he can be an NFL-level player at a completely new position.
Tebow famously refused to play any spot other than QB, which led to him pursuing a baseball career instead. With a new lease on NFL life, it appears Tebow is embracing his long-shot opportunity and at least making something out of it.
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A truer measure of where Tebow is will come as the grind of training camp continues and when he actually sees some action on the field during the preseason. The good news for him is, Jacksonville doesn’t exactly have a depth chart full of world beaters at tight end.
Catching passes from the team’s starting signal-caller in Lawrence is a great step for Tebow to get noticed by the coaching staff. You can bet Meyer is doing everything he can to ensure Tebow makes the final roster cut, but Friday’s TD grab suggests there may actually be some merit to keeping Tebow around.
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