JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville Jaguars coach Gus Bradley has been raving about Ace Sanders for weeks.

The third-year receiver has looked great in offseason workouts and organized team activities. He's running his routes sharper. He's catching everything. He's consistent, something with which he struggled during his first two seasons.

"He keeps stacking them up," Bradley said of Sanders' good workouts.

That's good for Sanders, but the reality is that what Sanders does as a receiver during OTAs, minicamp and training camp likely doesn't matter as much as what he does as a punt returner. That's what the Jaguars drafted him to do and he has been a disappointment there in his first two seasons.

He needs to make significant strides in that area to have a good chance to make the roster.

"I'm hoping what I see from Ace as a receiver shows up as a punt returner," Bradley said.

Sanders has averaged just 6.4 yards per punt return on 57 returns in two seasons. He's had just one punt return longer than 20 yards and his longest is 23.

That return came against the Dallas Cowboys last season. He also had his lowest moment as a returner against the Cowboys. He fumbled a punt at his own 6-yard line, the Cowboys recovered, and three plays later Tony Romo hit Jason Witten for a 2-yard touchdown. That wiped out the Jaguars' 7-3 lead late in the first quarter and they went on to lose 31-17.

That game encapsulates Sanders' up-and-down career so far. The Jaguars drafted him in the fourth round in 2013 to be a punt returner but he was pressed into significant duty at receiver because of injuries. He had to learn the outside and slot roles and caught 51 passes for 484 yards and one touchdown.

He averaged 5.6 yards on 25 punt returns and had a 93-yarder for a touchdown called back because of an illegal block penalty on LaRoy Reynolds.

Sanders was suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy just before training camp began in 2014. He was able to participate in camp and during the preseason but then began his suspension.

When he returned, he was not included in the receiver rotation and ended up catching just six passes for 55 yards. He was somewhat better as a returner, averaging 7.1 yards on 32 returns, but he still wasn't effective.

Now he's fighting for his job. The Jaguars brought in several players (Bryan Walters and Kasey Closs) to compete with Sanders as a punt returner. The Jaguars plan to give receiver Rashad Greene, whom they drafted in the fifth round, a shot at the job.

In addition, Tandon Doss is healthy and in the mix. He led the NFL in punt return yardage in 2013 (15.6 yards per return) and joined the Jaguars as a free agent in March 2014 but suffered an ankle injury early in training camp and was placed on IR.

Sanders' good start to his second NFL offseason is important but he'll need to carry that over into training camp and the preseason as a returner if he's to keep his roster spot.