Jaguars' Dwayne Gratz working to regain starting role

Jaguars cornerback Dwayne Gratz is in a backup role during OTAs behind 2013 seventh-round pick Demetrius McCray and free-agent addition Davon House, but he's looking to get another shot at starting in the future, the Florida Times-Union reports.

"Right now, I’m not starting, and I understand that things aren’t always going to go my way," Gratz said. "I’m going to have to work for it in the offseason. Hopefully, one day I’ll get that spot back."

Gratz opened last season as a starter after being drafted in the third round in 2013, but he was replaced by McCray after four weeks. He again received a chance to start later in the season due to an injury to Alan Ball, but the Jaguars hit the free-agent market during the offseason for an upgrade at the starting postion.

"He’s really matured," coach Gus Bradley said. "I see a completely different mind-set this year than he was his first year. Sometimes, you’ve got to externally motivate guys, or get after them or challenge them. That’s how I felt Gratzie was. I remember two years ago or a year and a half ago, I told him until he changes his mind-set, we’re going to have to continue to motivate him. Well, he’s not motivated through that anymore. It feels all more internally. I think he’s made really good strides. We’ll see how it carries over, but his mind-set, I really like how it is."