Patriots bring back receiver after rookie season on IR
The New England Patriots are reportedly re-signing wide receiver JaQuae Jackson. Jackson spent last year on the Patriots’ injured reserve.
As the NFL offseason gets underway, the New England Patriots continue to work through the process of re-signing their qualified free agents. The latest such move came on Wednesday night when they re-signed wide receiver JaQuae Jackson. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo was the first to report the move.
Jackson, 25, was originally scheduled to be an exclusive rights free agent (ERFA). That means the team had the option to tender him on a one-year, league-minimum contract to keep him from hitting the open market.
After going undrafted last year out of Rutgers Jackson initially signed with the Atlanta Falcons but was released after spring practices. The Patriots signed Jackson before training camp.
In New England Jackson started to make plays early in camp, and caught a 38-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Patriots’ preseason opener. However the following week he suffered a non-contact knee injury that ended his season. Rather than releasing him with an injury designation, the Patriots elected to keep him on IR throughout the 2024 season.
Now officially back with the team, Jackson once again will have a chance to compete for a depth role at what looks to be a wide-open wide receiver room in training camp. The Patriots are currently set to bring back DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker with external additions likely on the way as well.
The Patriots have now brought back two of their five pending ERFAs with Jackson’s new deal following the re-signing of defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms. The Patriots entered the offseason with 17 total pending free agents.
