Brenden Rice’s NFL path has turned into a tour of the league, and Green Bay is the latest stop.
The Packers added the son of Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice back in May, giving him yet another shot after a string of brief stays with other teams. Rice, who was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, has now been with five different NFL teams.
His pro résumé is still extremely thin. Rice has appeared in just three career games, all with the Chargers during his rookie season, and he has not been targeted or caught a pass. Los Angeles moved on from him before the 2025 campaign, and the carousel started spinning.
The New England Patriots signed him to their practice squad for a week in November of last year, then released him. The Seattle Seahawks followed by bringing him onto their practice squad for two weeks before cutting him loose. The Las Vegas Raiders were next, signing him to their practice squad in December before waiving him back in May.
For now, Rice is with the Packers, though making the roster looks like an uphill climb unless injuries open a door. Training camp and the preseason will likely decide whether he sticks.
There’s still reason for teams to keep watching. At USC, Rice put together a strong final two seasons, finishing with 1,402 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns on 84 catches. He also showed he could stretch the field for Caleb Williams in 2023.
That USC tie is part of why it’s a little surprising the Chicago Bears haven’t taken a shot on him yet. If Green Bay doesn’t work out, a Bears practice squad move wouldn’t be a shock.
And then there’s San Francisco, the place many figured Rice might land eventually. The 49ers only ended up with Terique Owens, the son of Terrell Owens, in the 2024 draft, but Brenden Rice always felt like a name that could circle back to the Bay Area. The Niners are set at wide receiver right now, but if injuries pile up in training camp or the preseason, another Rice could easily become a fit down the line.
For now, Green Bay has the claim. But this story feels far from finished.
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Now the more immediate roster question may be on the defensive side, where the 49ers are still viewed as needing another edge rusher to work alongside Nick Bosa. That has kept them tied to speculation around a possible Steelers trade, with the idea being that Pittsburgh could be open to moving a pass rusher if the right partner emerges. For San Francisco, it is the kind of opportunity that can change the shape of a defense quickly, even if the name attached to it has yet to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Aiyuk Exit Buzz Just Put 49ers Fans On Edge
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Salary cap concerns are part of the equation, along with the obvious uncertainty around Aiyuks situation and contract status, which makes any move feel complicated rather than clean. If Dallas decides the price and risk are too steep, the Cowboys could simply pivot to other options, including rookie Ryan Flournoy, leaving the Aiyuk talk as another reminder that this situation is far from settled. [Read more 🡒]