Patriots release NFL legend’s son after just one week in New England originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New England Patriots made a couple of roster moves on Tuesday, with one being the release of an NFL legend’s zone.
Advertisement
On Tuesday afternoon, the Patriots announced that they released wide receiver Brenden Rice from the practice squad and signed running back Jonathan Ward to take Rice’s place.
Rice signed with New England’s practice squad on November 4 and is now searching for a new home just a week later. The 23-year-old is the son of Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice.
“The New England Patriots announced that they have signed RB Jonathan Ward to the practice squad and released WR Brenden Rice from the practice squad,” the Patriots announced on their website.
A seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers, Rice has appeared in just three games in his career thus far, logging ten special teams snaps. The USC product was waived by the Chargers in late August during final roster cuts, and received an opportunity over two months later with New England.
Advertisement
Rice, who tallied 791 yards and 12 touchdowns in his senior season with the Trojans in 2023, could be an enticing developmental project for a team. The 6-foot-3 wide receiver still has some potential that could be unlocked in the right place.
As for the Patriots, adding a running back is a much-needed move, as Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson are both dealing with injuries. Ward has 46 games of experience, but has posted just 91 rushing yards in his career, which began as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
