Former Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones faces a crucial fourth season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers, who drafted Jones No. 17 overall in 2013, decided not to pick up the fifth-year option on Jones’ rookie contract, which would’ve guaranteed him $8.4 million next season.

Instead, the former Bulldog will test free agency in the offseason. It’s a message from the franchise to Jones that he “either shape up or ship out,” according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler confirmed that the franchise intends to motivate the “easygoing” fourth-year linebacker by making him earn his upcoming paycheck this season.

“That’s the reason why we did it,” Butler said. “We like Jarvis. There is nothing wrong with putting him in that situation. Sure, if he was a Pro Bowler, we would get all the stuff sewn up, but he hasn’t done that. I would rather put him in (this) situation to see how he responds.”

Jones has only recorded 54 tackles and five sacks during 36 games in his first three NFL seasons. He earned a starting role as a rookie, but struggled and was eventually given sporadic playing time.

Jones played the fewest snap of Pittsburgh’s four outside linebackers and finished with just 27 tackles and two sacks in 15 starts. He was only on the field for 41 percent of the Steelers’ plays, according to the Tribune-Review.

Jones’ weight has also fluctuated as the team asked him to add size last offseason and slim down to 250 pounds before training camp this week. The former Bulldog recorded 28 sacks during his two seasons at Georgia (2011-12).