Jacksonville Jaguars also pick up options on Shatley and Wells, decline on Benn and Rivera
By Billy Long
The Jacksonville Jaguars did not stop decisions on contract options with just Marcedes Lewis on Tuesday.
The Jacksonville Jaguars decided to rev up contract options on a handful of players on Tuesday. The most significant, albeit unsurprising one was picking up the option on veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis.
But the Jaguars also made contract decisions on four others in addition to Lewis: offensive tackle Josh Wells, offensive guard/center Tyler Shatley, wide receiver Arrelious Benn, and tight end Mychal Rivera.
Options picked up
Tyler Shatley
Shatley started four games last season, filling in at both center and right guard. When Brandon Linder was out for three consecutive games from weeks five through seven, Shatley stepped in and was the team’s starting center. The very next game(after the bye week), Linder returned but A.J. Cann missed his lone game of the season. Shatley subbed in for Cann at the right guard position.
Josh Wells
Josh Wells’ biggest contribution for Jacksonville in 2017 was also as a sub-in. Wells started at right tackle in place of Jermey Parnell when Parnell was out three weeks in between weeks 10-12. Wells also swung to the other side of the line when rookie Cam Robinson missed the regular season finale against the Tennessee Titans, and played at left tackle.
Options declined
Arrelious Benn
Injuries surly played the key role in Arrelious Benn not returning with the team. Benn finished last season on injured reserve, which was the case two of his three years in Jacksonville. While listed as a receiver, Benn’s contributions were mostly on special teams, as a captain of the unit. Despite that, however, Benn’s most substantial play did come as a wideout when he hauled in the game-winning reception against the Chicago Bears in 2016.
Mychal Rivera
It turns out that Mychal Rivera’s tenure with the Jaguars is over before it even got started. Rivera was signed as free agent tight end last offseason, but was placed on injured reserve before the season and ultimately never played a down with the team.