Pats Pulpit
With starter Kayshon Boutte working through a hamstring injury, the New England Patriots have added perimeter depth.
The organization signed wide receiver Brenden Rice to the practice squad on Tuesday, per reports from NFL insider Jordan Schultz and Mark Daniels of MassLive.
The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice visited Foxborough for a workout in September. He had cleared waivers following the league’s 53-man roster deadline and remained a free agent since then.
Rice, 23, was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft at No. 225 overall. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound “X” target appeared in three games during his rookie season. He saw a combined 13 snaps between offense and special teams.
A former transfer from Colorado, Rice finished his collegiate career at USC alongside quarterback Caleb Williams. He caught 84 passes for 1,402 yards and 16 touchdowns through 26 games with the Trojans, earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors as a senior.
A corresponding move looms to make room for the addition.
Head coach Mike Vrabel’s contingent currently carries six wide receivers on the active roster as well as John Jiles and Jeremiah Webb on the practice squad.
Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline arrives at 4 p.m. ET.
