Welcome to the third stage of Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis’ career.

Stage One (2006-12): Lewis missed only three games and could be counted on for 35-40 catches per season and solid run-blocking.

Stage Two (2013-16): A difficult slough for Lewis, who sustained three major injuries that cost him 19 games and experienced a diminished role, averaging only 19.8 catches.

Stage Three (now): More like Stage One?

"That’s my mindset – to be able to do everything," Lewis said after a workout last week. "To have the chance to go out there during the latter part of my career and still be utilized – I’m excited for the opportunity."

Lewis should be excited for the opportunity because it’s unexpected.

But the full-time promotion of Nathaniel Hackett to offensive coordinator, the departure of Julius Thomas and the Jaguars’ decision to not draft an all-around tight end has thrust Lewis back into a potentially prominent role.

Not a bad pivot for Lewis, who is the longest-tenured Jaguars player (12th year) and, at age 33, the fifth-oldest starting tight end in the league.

"It’s hard to find someone at that position that can give you something in the passing game and also something in the run game," said coach Doug Marrone, whose team resumes organized team activity workouts on Tuesday. "When you get a player that has a combination of both, he has great value."

The Jaguars have six tight ends on the roster. Lewis has 28 career touchdown catches and the other five have combined for 11 (10 by newcomer Mychal Rivera and one by Ben Koyack). Rivera is more of a "move" tight end, used to create passing-game matchups. Koyack and Neal Sterling are still young players learning how to be consistent.

Lewis has a fan in Hackett, who as Buffalo’s play-caller in 2013-14 helped tight end Scott Chandler catch 100 passes. Lewis had only 36 catches the last two years as the Jaguars emphasized Thomas getting targets in general and red zone targets in particular.

"Just from talking to Hackett, my mindset is that I will be used more," Lewis said.

There certainly appears to be a connection between Hackett and Lewis. During last Friday’s practice, Hackett worked one-on-one with Lewis, throwing him bad passes that forced Lewis to adjust his body to make the catch and then discussing the practice script.

Hackett, who will not be available to the media until next month, clearly values Lewis’ skills. But how he will use him is unclear. Hackett called the plays for the final nine games of 2016, but Lewis played only two games and one series.

Pre-Hackett, Lewis played more than 50 percent of the snaps only once in seven games under Greg Olson. With Hackett, Lewis played 38 of 77 snaps (49 percent) at Kansas City and 34 of 78 snaps (44 percent) against Houston.

The Chiefs game tape did reveal that Hackett is unlikely to move Lewis into the slot or out wide, things the Jaguars tried with Thomas. Lewis lined up at six spots: Right/left three-point stance, stand-up and off-the-ball. He was detached from the offensive line on only one snap.

Lewis had seasons of 41, 58 and 52 catches early in his career, but only 25, 18, 16 and 20 receptions the last four years. To that end, what he can provide in that department might be considered a bonus.

Last year, Lewis’ longest catch (37 yards against Green Bay in Week 1) was on a screen pass. It was his only catch longer than 17 yards. He caught only two passes that traveled at least 10 yards downfield.

The roster mechanics suggest Lewis will be a bigger part of the game plan, but it won’t crystallize until the Sept. 10 opener at Houston. The assumption is Hackett will be use three-receiver/one-tight end as his base personnel group. On base downs, Lewis could stay on the field; on third down, that could mean playing time for Rivera.

The plus for Lewis: His presence is not a "tell" for defenses. If he is on the field in "11" personnel on, for example, a second-and-6, a run play is still in the cards because he can block; when Thomas was on the field in that situation, it was a giveaway the Jaguars were going to pass.

"It’s hard to tell now, but it won’t be like last year when I wasn’t in ‘11’ [personnel] at all," said Lewis, referring to the three-receiver/one-tight end grouping. "I’ll be in all of it."

Marrone is Lewis’ fourth head coach and Hackett his fifth offensive coordinator. At this point of his career, Lewis just wants a chance to be involved. And the Jaguars appear ready to give him that chance.

"You know how I’ve always been," Lewis said. "I’m ready for it. I’m ready for this kind of load and so far during the installation [of the offense], we’re not decoys. It’s pretty cool."