Jacksonville Jaguars

Marcedes Lewis adapting to new role with Jaguars

Published May. 26, 2015 11:49 p.m. ET

foxsports

Veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis is back with the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 10th season, but much has changed from previous years.

For starters, his job as the team's No. 1 tight end is gone with the arrival of big-ticket free agent Julius Thomas from the Denver Broncos.

His salary is different as well. Lewis agreed to a pay cut in April. According to the Florida Times-Union, his salary cap number dropped from $8.2 million to $3.85 million with his re-worked deal.

Lewis said Tuesday he's taking the changes in stride.

"Nothing changes inside here,” Lewis said, pointing to his heart, via Ryan O'Halloran of the Times-Union. “My job is to still go out there and do my best to help this team win. I’m paid to do a job. I’ve had a chance to come here and do some good things over the years.”

The 31-year-old Lewis said he believes the addition of Thomas will end up working to his benefit.

“We’re going to feed off each other,” Lewis said. “It’s going to be some problems for the other team now. They’re not going to be able to key on one guy."

As for the pay cut, Lewis, who missed a combined 13 games over the last two seasons, said he accepted the reasoning behind it.

“I understand it from a business standpoint — I’m a businessman myself so I get it," Lewis said. "My biggest thing is that I wanted to be in an off-season program.”

Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley said he isn't surprised Lewis is embracing the new reality.

“I would have been surprised if he hadn’t,” Bradley said. “He’s been great, but he’s been like that. Whatever we ask of him, whatever we challenge him with, he’s done."

(h/t Florida-Times Union)

Photo credit: Andrew Weber/USA TODAY Sports