The Green Bay Packers have added another intriguing name to the roster, claiming wide receiver Brenden Rice off waivers from the Las Vegas Raiders while waiving defensive tackle James Ester in a corresponding transaction.
If the last name sounds familiar, there is a good reason. Brenden Rice is the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice, a three-time Super Bowl champion who also captured NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors twice during his legendary career. Jerry Rice was additionally selected to the First-team All-Pro list 10 times.
Brenden Rice’s path to the NFL has not unfolded quite like his father’s legendary career. The young receiver has already spent time with multiple franchises while searching for long-term stability at the professional level. Before entering the NFL, Rice suited up in college for both the Colorado Buffaloes and USC Trojans before the Los Angeles Chargers selected him in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Rice spent two seasons with the Colorado Buffaloes before entering the transfer portal in 2022 and eventually continuing his college career at USC. The former Hamilton High School standout later announced in 2023 that he would skip his remaining eligibility and declare for the NFL Draft.
Can Brenden Rice prove himself with the Green Bay Packers?
Following his selection by the Chargers, Rice was released in 2025 as part of the team’s final roster cuts after playing in a total of three games. He then spent time on the practice squads of both the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks within a short span, though the seventh-round pick was ultimately let go by both teams.
Shortly following his release from Seattle, he landed on the Raiders’ practice squad and later signed a reserve/future contract with the organization. Even with those opportunities, he has still not recorded a single catch in the NFL.
Rice’s arrival in Green Bay represents another chance to finally establish himself at the professional level after bouncing around the league without gaining traction. The Green Bay Packers offer a stable organization with an established quarterback in Jordan Love, potentially giving Rice the environment he needs to develop.
While his NFL resume remains empty, the pedigree and college production suggest there’s untapped potential worth exploring.