Who Should I Start? Javon Baker or Brenden Rice

Tuesday, August 12, 1:08 AM

New England Patriots wide receiver Javon Baker has been working with the special teams unit during practice and in the preseason opener against Washington. Additionally, the second-year wideout continuously makes highlight catches when given the opportunity on offense. It's a positive to see Baker taking on and succeeding in any possible role under the new coaching staff, as it could earn him an opportunity down the line in a thin receiver room. The 23-year-old saw little action as a rookie but brings good size at 6'2", 195 pounds, along with solid athleticism and a strong final season at UCF. He totaled over 1,100 receiving yards and averaged 21.9 yards per reception, the second most in the country. There is still upside in the tank with Baker, and he could be a name to keep in mind if he gets an opportunity.

Monday, August 25, 8:06 PM

The Los Angeles Chargers are waiving wide receiver Brenden Rice, the son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, on Monday, a source tells NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. If Rice clears waivers, he could return to the team's practice squad to open the 2025 regular season as receiver depth for the Bolts. The Chargers selected the 23-year-old in the seventh round (225th overall) last year out of USC, and Rice didn't catch a single game in parts of only three games in 2024 while playing just 13 offensive snaps. He finished his rookie campaign on Injured Reserve due to a shoulder injury. Rice is healthy now, but he'll be looking to catch on with another team via waivers or free agency.