The returning returner: Jamal Agnew embracing role with Jaguars' new offense

When training camp started, it wasn’t clear what Jamal Agnew’s role for the Jaguars would be. But after seeing him have an increased involvement in team drills, the answer is a little easier to spot.

A playmaker.

After having a limited offseason workload, Agnew has recovered from the hip injury that prematurely ended his season last year. On Sunday, he got his first taste of live action in more than half a year — including being tackled and running full speed.

Gene Frenette: Boselli's pricey HOF bash, Browns bungle Watson decision, MLB musings, more

Jaguars vs. Browns:: Doug Pederson has a long wish list a month before season opener

Deshaun's coming to Duval: Watson will start for Cleveland Browns vs. the Jaguars in Friday's preseason game

He didn’t show any signs of slowing down after being tackled by his Jaguars teammates. It was a positive step for the sixth-year veteran.

“I just started practicing again a couple days ago,” Agnew said after practice Wednesday. “Trying to acclimate a little bit and work my way back. It’s different running on the side than getting in there and running plays. I’m just trying to get back into football shape. It’s a little different than conditioning on the side. It’s looking good and I’m feeling good.”

On Monday, for the first time in camp, defensive backs and wide receivers faced off in one-on-one drills. Agnew was among the receivers that won most of his reps. He broke free from almost every defender, leaving many of them at the line-of-scrimmage as he danced his way around those players.

He even had a rep where he dove out for a pass that was just out of his reach — a sure indication that he’s healed from his injury.

“That felt good, to get hit again. It’s been eight or nine months since I suited up,” he said. “To put the pads on and take a couple hits, get tackled a couple of times it felt good. I was diving all over the place so to have the confidence to do all of that coming off the injury, I feel good.”

Agnew’s emergence could be vital to Jacksonville’s offensive success this season. He scored four touchdowns in four different ways last season. Rushing, receiving, a kick return and a miss field goal returned for a touchdown all resulted in points for the Jaguars when Agnew was involved.

Now that he’s back on the field, it’s about application of what he’s learned according to head coach Doug Pederson.

“I guess the biggest thing is just seeing where he is mentally and with the system,” Pederson said on Wednesday. “He’s heard it a lot,” Pederson said on Agnew. “He hasn’t had many reps with it. But it was good to get him back out, get his feet wet, get popped a little bit, him and Travis both that one live day, and tackle them to the ground. It was good to get him out there. Another player we have to keep slowly progressing and get him on to the regular season.”

When Agnew’s number is called, he’ll be ready to make an impact. Whether that’s as a part of the offense or on special teams. He showed last season that he can be used effectively in both facets of the game.

He was one of the more consistent receivers for the Jaguars pre-injury and is elite in special teams, being named to the All-Pro team as a rookie returner.

To put it simply, Agnew is a playmaker.

“Wherever they feel like they need to put me. As long as it’s in a position to make a play I’m fine with it," he said. "I’m looking forward to it. I feel like we have a lot of pieces in this offense and me coming off the injury, I’m just another tool in the toolbox.

“We’ve got a lot to work with. We’ve still got a long way to go. We still have three weeks until the regular season starts. But I’m looking forward to going out there and making plays.”

Juston Lewis is a sports reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on Twitter at @JustonLewis_.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jamal Agnew returns from hip injury, coming along in Jaguars camp