Patriots HC Praises New WR with Legendary Lineage

FOXBOROUGH, MA. — While the New England Patriots may have been conspicuously quiet on NFL trade deadline day, they did add some needed depth to their corps of receivers.

Brenden Rice, son of Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver and three-time Super Bowl Champion Jerry Rice, is now a member of the Pats’ practice squad. New England previously hosted Rice on a tryout/ free-agent visit on Sept. 24, before ultimately signing him on Nov. 4.

Rice’s signing coincides with the injury to starting receiver Kayshon Boutte. The LSU product, who leads the team with three receiving touchdowns, hurt his hamstring in the second quarter of the Pats’ 24-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9. While Rice is not expected to play a major role for the Patriots upon arrival, he should provide their scout team with a sizable, perimeter pass-catcher — one who also possesses a tremendous upside. In fact, head coach Mike Vrabel is excited to begin working the 23-year-old for the foreseeable future.

“He has good size and I think he's shown the ability to learn quickly,” Vrabel told reporters at Gillette Stadium. “I think that that was something that's important at this time of year, being able to get a guy in here that can help us at multiple spots if something happens. Start on the practice squad and then everybody has to prepare like a starter.”

Rice was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the seventh round (225 overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Southern California. The 6’3” 210-pounder, saw action in three games as a rookie, primarily on special teams, before finishing the year on injured reserve. Rice, who has yet to record a catch in the NFL, was released by the Chargers on Aug. 26.

Brenden Rice is Eager to Forge His Own Legacy