JACKSONVILLE – The NFL is about opportunity, and Tyler Shatley likes the one he has in Jacksonville.
That's a huge reason the reserve guard was happy Tuesday.
Shatley, a reserve interior lineman with the Jaguars the past three seasons, on Tuesday re-signed with the team. The move prevents Shatley from becoming a restricted free agent when the new league year begins on March 9.
The Jaguars announced the signing Tuesday afternoon.
"It's definitely a relief, and I'm just glad they'll have me back," Shatley said Tuesday. "I'm ready to get back to work and get started on this 2017 season. I want to continue to my best, help out on special teams and step in offense whenever I'm needed – and if need be, I can start. …
"It's a great opportunity to stay here and continue to try to prove myself and help out the team any way I can."
Shatley (6-feet-3, 310 pounds), who played collegiately at Clemson, originally signed with the Jaguars as a collegiate free agent following the 2014 NFL Draft. He has started four games and appeared in 30 in three NFL seasons.
He started four games this past season, including two at center and two at left guard. He played in all 16 games in 2016 after playing in 13 in 2015 and one as a rookie.
Shatley was one of three undrafted rookies to make the Jaguars' Week 1 roster in 2014. The others were offensive lineman Josh Wells and wide receiver Allen Hurns.
"Tyler is an example of a player who has grown over the past three seasons due to his incredible work ethic," Jaguars General Manager Dave Caldwell said in a statement. "He has worked tirelessly to assist the offensive line unit in any role that is asked of him. In addition to showing impressive flexibility along the line, he performed admirably when he started four games in 2016.
"He embodies the 'next-man-up' approach and we will continue to benefit from his selfless approach on and off the field for years to come."
The Jaguars' offensive line will be coached this season by Pat Flaherty, a 17-year veteran of the NFL who spent 12 seasons as the New York Giants' offensive line coach from 2004-2015 before spending this past season as the San Francisco 49ers' offensive line coach.
Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone was the assistant head coach-offensive/offensive line coach from the start of the 2015 season until taking over as interim head coach with two games remaining this past season.
"It feels more like home [with Marrone staying]," Shatley said. "I haven't gone through a coaching change, but I imagine it's pretty tough when everything's clean from head to toe. Having Coach Marrone still here and knowing what he expects with working with him for a couple of years … I definitely think that will help and make things feel more at home."
