The ride to Jacksonville was bumpy for Jaguars running back Jonas Gray.

Signed as an undrafted free agent by Miami in 2013, he was eventually cut. Signed to the practice squad in Baltimore, he was then plucked away by New England.

After leading New England in rushing in 2014, including a 201-yard game, he was surprisingly released before the following season. And there was one more stop with the Dolphins on their practice squad before being signed by the Jaguars last December.

Yet, despite a career that has zigged, zagged and mostly been filled with frustration as he moved from one place to the next, Gray remains one of the most confident players in the Jaguars' locker room.

"At the end of the day, I'm a ballplayer," he said. "I'm a confident player, and I think my game travels. I can go into any locker room and compete with anybody. Regardless of where I'm at, I'm going to go ball. Regardless, I'm going to work hard."

Last December, the Jaguars signed Gray when starter T.J. Yeldon sustained a knee injury that kept him out of the final three games.

Gray was given an opportunity in the team's final two games and said he "feels good about" what he was able to do: 14 carries for 54 yards while showing a nice burst against New Orleans and Houston.

Getting another chance like that in Jacksonville this season could be difficult.

Yeldon and Chris Ivory, who led the AFC in rushing with the Jets last season and signed a free agent deal with the Jaguars, will share a majority of the carries as long as they remain healthy. That leaves Gray in competition with Denard Robinson and Corey Grant for a job as the team's No. 3 tailback.

Jaguars offensive coordinator Greg Olson said determining roles behind the team's top two running backs is something the team needs to "sort out quickly" when the full roster reports to training camp July 27.

Robinson had 67 carries for 266 yards (4.0-yard average) and one touchdown last season, but has struggled to prove he can withstand a heavy workload. Grant was placed on injured reserve in October with a hip injury. He had just two carries last season, but might also be the team's best kick returner. Career reserve Joe Banyard is also on the roster.

Ultimately, two of those players will likely be out of a job.

"That's the nature of the business," said Gray, who at 5-foot-10 and 225 pounds could offer the Jaguars a bruising, short-yardage runner in addition to Ivory. "You go into locker rooms and you're going to be competing with guys. But you still build relationships. That's the good thing about the sport of football and it being a team sport.

"Guys push each other. We are competing at a high level and getting stuff out of each other that we wouldn't have otherwise."

Gray also mentioned his time in New England during the 2014 season as proof he can carve out a role.

Gray worked his way to the top of the depth chart for a short time despite the roster also featuring Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley (who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in October of that season); LeGarrette Blount also was eventually re-signed.

Gray's most memorable moment came that season when he starred against Indianapolis, with 201 yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries during a 42-20 victory. It was only the 119th time since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger that a player had rushed for that many yards in a game.

Just as quickly as he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Gray overslept and was late for practice. He was made inactive for the next game and lost his spot to Blount.

Gray is used to being on teams with multiple tailbacks competing for carries.

"That's the thing about the NFL," he said. "I've been on teams that were stacked at running back. That's why it's doing the little things that can separate yourself. I feel like in my career I've been in tighter situations where there has been more running backs to compete with."

Those little things Gray has been focused on during organized team activities and minicamp include showcasing ball security and being adept at blitz pickups during individual and team drills. He's also trying to prove he can be a capable part of the passing attack by running crisp routes and showing soft hands.

Running the ball effectively? Well, Gray believes there is no question he can do that.

"Blitz pickup days against the linebackers, one-on-one against the linebackers," he said. "Those are where you can make your hay if you don't get a whole lot of reps. Just playing mistake-free, execute and those reps will start changing, and you'll start getting more and more.

"Running backs are supposed to be able to ball. In a league like this where you're competing for jobs, it's everything else. That's just how it goes."

Phillip Heilman: (904) 359-4271