When Jamal Agnew signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent in March 2021, he had minimal experience as an offensive player. Less than two years later, Agnew says he’s finally feeling comfortable on offense.
“It’s been a learning process for me just because I never really played offense since high school,” Agnew told Ashlyn Sullivan of Jaguars.com. “I always wanted to do it in college; I wanted to play both ways. I didn’t really know how to run routes, I was just fast. I was athletic enough to do it casually.
“This year, with the help of [receivers coach C.J. Jackson], coach [Doug] Pederson, Press [Taylor], and even Jim Bob [Cooter], I feel like I know how to play offense and I’m not even thinking out there anymore. I learned offense my first year, I learned how to run routes my second year, and this year I’m just out there playing, I’m not thinking about it.”
Agnew, 27, was a defensive back by trade when he was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft and earned All-Pro honors as a returner after finishing his rookie year with two punt return touchdowns. While he saw a few snaps on offense in his first three seasons, Agnew’s first significant time on that side of the ball came in 2020, his last season with the Lions.
Last season, Agnew had a career-high 24 receptions for 229 yards and recorded his first two career offensive touchdowns. Agnew also recorded a kickoff return touchdown and returned a missed field goal for a touchdown. His season ended in November with a hip injury.
