JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – “It is hard to leave the game.”
Saying goodbye is hard, but Jaguars guard Tyler Shatley decided it is time for him to hang up the cleats after this season.
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This will be Shatley’s 11th season he started as an undrafted free agent from Clemson and didn’t expect to make it past training camp.
“I was expecting to go get a job somewhere,” said Shatley.
Turns out that 11 years later, his job is still the same block. The Jaguars have been a team filled with inconsistencies over the last 11 years, but Shatley has been Mr. Consistent. He has played in 145 games and currently holds the franchise record for the most consecutive games played at 140.
Now, Shatley wants one last go around before he hangs up those cleats and spends more time at home with his family.
“Every year for as long as I can remember I have been putting on pads come September,” he said.
It is going to be a tough change but Shatley wanted to make the decision early to make sure he could enjoy every moment, even the ones that are tough, and take it all in.
“I‘m going to enjoy the dog days of camp if there is a way to enjoy it is knowing that is won’t be back next year,” Shatley said.
Shatley and Cam Robinson are the only two players left from the Jaguars 2017 run into the AFC championship game. Shatley has seen a lot across Jags locker rooms and every year is different, but he said this year’s squad has major “potential.,”
“There is a buzz in the locker room we all know we have the potential,” he said.
Shatley did admit that, “Obviously every year you think it is your year” but maybe this one really could be. On paper, the Jaguars have the talent but only time will tell. It would be awesome if the Jags could have a fantastic season and send a guy like Shatley out on a high note.
📓Notebook 📓
- Injury update: Not practicing: Steven Jones (calf) Patrick Murtagh (ankle), Cooper Hodges (back), Anton Harrison (concussion protocol), Andrew Wingard (knee) Greg Junior (knee), Ezra Cleveland (leg). Limited: Cam Robinson (shoulder), Keilan Robinson (toe), Jordan Jefferson (ankle) and Ventrell Miller (hand, no contact).
- I was out of the fold last week so still playing a little catchup on my part.
- It was a short practice. More of a walkthrough really.
- No fans in the stands for this one.
- Jarrian Jones came up with an interception from a pass from CJ Beathard during team drills.
- Elijah Cooks got loose for a deep catch in the end zone during team drills.
- The rotations are starting to get clearer. Keep an eye on Christian Braswell he is a guy who has clearly moved up the depth chart preseason will be big for him.