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Jaguars' Joeckel seeing snaps at guard during OTAs

Frederick Breedon / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The free-agent addition of Kelvin Beachum has brought significant uncertainty to Luke Joeckel's future in Jacksonville.

Presumably planning for the possibility that Beachum wins the starting left tackle job, the Jaguars had Joeckel take a number of snaps Monday at guard during OTAs.

"It’s different; you're not out on an island," Joeckel said, according to Ryan O'Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. "You've got to be able to play every position and get better at every single thing you're doing. Whatever they ask me to do, I'll do."

Joeckel started 35 games at left tackle over the last three years after landing in Jacksonville as the No. 2 pick in 2013. Despite struggling as a pro, he'll almost certainly be given the chance to make good on his potential. And the 24-year-old is confident he can get it done.

"I'm going in planning on winning the job," Joeckel said. "I'm competing for a spot - that's what this program is based on. I have to go out there and improve myself each and every day."

Joeckel will have a head start on the competition, as Beachum is still working his way back from an ACL injury that forced him to miss the the final 10 games of the 2015 season.

Should he manage to get healthy in time for training camp, though, it's possible he emerges as the front-runner sooner rather than later.

Beachum was the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting left tackle for the better part of the two years prior, establishing himself as a strong blind-side pass protector.

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