:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46605644/usa-today-8637174.0.jpg)
Ace Sanders' 2013 season for the Jacksonville Jaguars saw the rookie hurtled into a top wide receiver role.
While Sanders found some success as a main target, becoming one of the only reliable receivers in an indolent Jaguars offense. The 2014 season, however, painted Ace in a very different light. The season began with Sanders falling beneath rookie receivers on the depth chart, and ended with him struggling to create opportunities in his punt returner role.
Ace ranked 22nd in the NFL among league returners last season, averaging a meager 7.1 yards per return.
And in training camp this July, he'll face several contenders gunning for his punt return duties.
Bryan Walters joined the team in March after returning punts with the Seattle Seahawks last season. To make the roster as a receiver, Walters will likely have to beat out Sanders for the punt returner role.
The Jaguars’ roster still embraces former Baltimore Ravens receiver Tandon Doss, who spent all of last season on injured reserve. Doss came over from Baltimore last offseason after leading the league with a 15.6-yard average on 23 punt returns in 2013. He’ll push for Ace’s job as well.
Long shots for the punt returner position include Arrelious Benn and rookie Rashad Greene. Benn averaged 23.5 yards in 13 returns while playing for Tampa in 2012, but has missed the last two seasons after tearing his ACL. Greene, the Jaguars fifth-round pick out of Florida State University, looks to slide into the upcoming position battle as well.
The Jaguars will also face the task of replacing Jordan Todman this season, who ranked 8th as a kickoff returner with an average of 25.6 yards per return in 2014. Dave Caldwell has kicked around the idea of putting Denard Robinson in at kick returner, and Storm Johnson has a little experience returning the ball. Undrafted free agent Corey Grant has also captivated several coaches and local media with his speed in the return game throughout OTA practices this offseason.
There is also a rumor that former Indianapolis Colts returner Josh Cribbs could be thrown into the mix.
As the Jaguars return game undergoes a renovation, opportunity surfaces for several bubble players looking to sneak onto the roster. By the end of training camp, we could see two new faces fielding the ball on special teams.