NFL Bloodlines Run Deep in Vegas: Raiders Sign Brenden Rice to Practice Squad
If you’ve been paying attention to the Las Vegas Raiders this season, you’ve probably noticed a trend - and no, it’s not just the rollercoaster ride that’s been their 2025 campaign. It’s the growing number of players with Hall of Fame DNA walking through the locker room doors. Call it coincidence, call it strategy, but one thing’s for sure: the Raiders are leaning into NFL bloodlines in a big way.
The latest addition? Wide receiver Brenden Rice, son of the legendary Jerry Rice, who just so happens to be the NFL’s all-time leader in just about every major receiving category - and yes, a former Raider himself.
The team announced Wednesday that Rice has been signed to the practice squad, giving the Silver and Black yet another player with a direct line to football greatness. Jerry Rice spent part of his twilight years in Oakland, putting up over 3,000 yards and 18 touchdowns across three-plus seasons. Now his son is hoping to carve out his own path in the same colors - even if it starts on the practice field.
A Family Affair in the Desert
Brenden Rice isn’t the only name on the roster with a Hall of Fame connection. The Raiders’ current safety room reads like a family tree of defensive royalty.
Jeremy Chinn is the nephew of Steve Atwater, an eight-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champ with the Broncos. Isaiah Pola-Mao?
He’s the nephew of Troy Polamalu, the Steelers legend known for his hair, his hits, and his Hall of Fame bust in Canton.
Even former preseason safety Trey Taylor brought pedigree to the table - he’s the nephew of Ed Reed, one of the most instinctive safeties the game has ever seen.
It doesn’t stop there. Kicker Daniel Carlson, defensive back Tristin McCollum, and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg all have brothers currently in the league. Jamal Adams is a second-generation NFL player, and Devin White has family ties to the league as well.
Clearly, the Raiders aren’t shy about bringing in players with football in their blood. Whether that’s part of a broader roster-building philosophy or simply a byproduct of the modern NFL remains to be seen - but the trend is hard to ignore.
Brenden Rice’s Journey (So Far)
Brenden Rice’s road to the NFL hasn’t mirrored his father’s - and that’s okay. The younger Rice showed flashes of talent during his college days at Colorado and USC, enough to get him drafted in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024. But like many late-round picks, he’s had to fight for every opportunity.
After being waived during final cuts ahead of the 2025 season, Rice bounced around a bit. He had brief stints on the practice squads of the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, but neither stop stuck. Now, he lands in Las Vegas, where the Raiders are in need of young, developmental talent at wide receiver.
While he hasn’t yet caught an NFL pass, Rice brings size, pedigree, and a solid college résumé to the table. He’s not the kind of player who’s going to walk in and immediately change the offense - but in a season where the Raiders have been searching for answers and upside, he’s a low-risk, high-upside flier worth taking.
Can He Carve Out His Own Legacy?
Let’s be clear: Brenden Rice isn’t trying to be Jerry Rice. That’s an impossible ask - we’re talking about a player many consider the greatest of all time. But what Brenden can do is take this opportunity, build on his college foundation, and find a role on a team that’s clearly open to giving second (and third) chances to players with potential.
With the Raiders in a transitional year under Pete Carroll and John Spytek, there’s room for fresh faces to earn their way onto the field. And if Rice can show enough in practice, he might just get that shot.
For now, it’s another chapter in what’s becoming a very NFL-family-friendly environment in Las Vegas. Whether that turns into wins down the stretch remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure - the Raiders are building a roster with names that carry weight, both on the stat sheet and in the history books.
And if Brenden Rice can channel even a fraction of his father’s greatness, the Raiders might just have found a gem hiding in plain sight.