Jerry Rice's Son, Brenden, Gets Claimed By The Packers
In the first two seasons since wide receiver Brenden Rice - the son of NFL wide receiving GOAT Jerry Rice - first entered the NFL, he's struggled to get onto the field. As he enters his third year, he's hoping the Green Bay Packers can offer him a chance.
According to Ari Meirov of The 33rd NFL Team, the Packers have claimed Rice off waivers the by the Las Vegas Raiders. Green Bay will now be his fifth team since going to the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2024 NFL Draft.
2025 was a rough season for Rice. He was cut by the Chargers during final roster cuts to start the season then bounced around the league on practice squads for the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and finally the Raiders. Rice signed a reserve/future contract with the Raiders this past January.
The only NFL action he saw came with the Chargers in 2024. He appeared in three games and got a grand total of three snaps on offense and 10 on special teams, recording no targets or tackles.
NFL fans and Packers fans in particular are a bit skeptical that Rice will be able to carve a niche for himself in a receiving corps that is already fairly stacked.
"How does Rice fit into a receiver group that already features Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed?" one user on X asked.
"I'm sure the older fanbase will take this well lol," wrote another.
"Low-risk, high-reward dart throw. Packers sniffing value," a third wrote.
Promise in college
Rice's inability to replicate his father's success in the NFL doesn't mean that he never had potential to begin with. He played his four college seasons split between Colorado and USC, contributing to a decent degree as a returner for the Buffaloes and as a receiver for the Trojans.
As a returner at Colorado he averaged nearly 30 yards per return and scored a touchdown. He also enjoyed 27 receptions for 419 yards and five touchdowns between 2020 and 2021.
Rice was more prolific as a receiver for the Trojans in 2022 and 2023. He had 84 receptions for 1,402 yards and 16 touchdowns in 26 games for USC over that span.
Rice put up decent if unspectacular numbers at the ensuing NFL Combine and his Pro Day and the Chargers took a flyer on him late in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 4:19 PM.