He showed his potential in prime time less than two years ago, with 201 yards rushing for the Patriots in a win over the Colts. But then Jonas Gray overslept, landed in coach Bill Belichick’s doghouse, and has since been bouncing around the league in search of a home.
Currently on the Jacksonville roster, Gray still talks a good game -- even if he isn’t playing in many.
“At the end of the day, I’m a ballplayer,” Gray said, via Phillip Hellman of the Florida Times-Union. “I’m a confident player, and I think my game travels. I can go into any locker room and compete with anybody. Regardless of where I’m at, I’m going to go ball. Regardless, I’m going to work hard.”
He’ll need to work extremely hard, with Chris Ivory, T.J. Yeldon, and Denard Robinson on the roster.
“I’ve been on teams that were stacked at running back,” Gray said. “That’s why it’s doing the little things that can separate yourself. I feel like in my career I’ve been in tighter situations where there has been more running backs to compete with.”
Last year in two games with the Jaguars, Gray gained 54 yards on 14 carries. He also gained 122 yards on 31 carries in six games with the Dolphins.
To have a chance in 2016 with the Jaguars, Gray will need to beat out Robinson or Corey Grant (or both). If Gray can’t, he’ll continue to search for the next team that eventually may give him a chance to rush for more than 200 yards in one game.