Not only did the Jaguars not pick up the option on left tackle Luke Joeckel’s contract this offseason, they also went out and signed a potential replacement and tried the former No. 2 overall pick at a new position.
So yeah, he’s walking into camp this week with a little something to prove.
“I feel the healthiest, strongest and fastest I’ve ever felt,” Joeckel said, via Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. “I have a lot of confidence going into this training camp.
“And then there’s a little bit of a chip on my shoulder, and that makes a difference, too.”
Of course, the fiscal and personnel moves the Jaguars made were partly because of his own play, as Joeckel struggled at times last year. So any lack of confidence in their left tackle would be justified, even if the numbers weren’t so high.
But by not picking up his 2017 option (for $11.9 million) and by signing former Steelers left tackle Kelvin Beachum in free agency, Joeckel was immediately put on notice. The snaps they gave him at left guard should have then made it clear nothing was going to be handed to him.
“You always try to play with some kind of chip,” Joeckel said. “But this one is different. Going from high school and right into college as a true freshman, there was definitely competition, but I’ve started every game I’ve played in football. I want to keep that going.”
He said he’s not thinking about moving to guard, that he wants to compete for the job he’s held. And with Beachum recovered from last year’s ACL tear, he’s expected to be there to compete from the start of camp as well.
That will give Joeckel a chance to re-establish himself, as well as his market as he enters a contract year.
