f.OFFICIAL: 2x Super Bow Champion Brandon Graham Returns To Play For Eagles In Week 8 After Coming Out Of Retirement.f
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are entering Week 7 with quiet urgency and a sense of recalibration. After a grueling six weeks marked by injuries to key offensive players — including Mike Evans, Emeka Egbuka, and Chris Godwin — the team has been forced to reexamine its depth chart and search for new sparks. Despite a strong 5–1 start, the Buccaneers’ coaching staff knows the margin for error in the NFC South is razor-thin. Every move now carries playoff implications, and every addition could become a difference-maker in a season defined by resilience.
That’s why their latest move has drawn such attention. Tampa Bay hosted a private workout with a young wide receiver whose last name carries enormous weight in NFL history — a player determined to forge his own path while chasing the shadow of greatness.
Brenden Rice, son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, has turned down an offer to join the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad after an embarrassing 1–5 start to the season
, choosing instead to pursue a workout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — where he believes he can grow into the kind of star his father once was. The agreement with the Buccaneers is contingent on a medical evaluation scheduled for midweek, leaving his near-term future in the balance.
That wideout is the son of one of the most legendary players in NFL history. His father redefined the wide receiver position for the San Francisco 49ers, and now the next generation is trying to carve out a place of his own. Few cities in football offer a bigger stage than Buccaneers, and he clearly believes it’s the right one for his story.
Rice brings a mix of promise and pressure. Known for his strength and physicality at the catch point, he also carries a recent track record of inconsistency and nagging injuries. After being released by the Los Angeles Chargers earlier this season, Rice has been searching for the right fit to reignite his career. His decision to bypass the Saints and head to Tampa shows confidence — and a belief that the Buccaneers’ system offers the perfect opportunity to prove himself.
Despite recent setbacks, the Buccaneers view Rice as a compelling addition. During his collegiate career at Notre Dame, he displayed size, body control, and the ability to make plays in traffic — traits Tampa Bay’s staff believes could translate well in the NFL. He logged 1,741 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns over his college career, showing flashes of the physical playmaking DNA that defined his father’s legacy.
Health and readiness remain key factors. Rice has dealt with lower-body injuries that limited his availability in 2024, but Tampa Bay’s medical team will evaluate whether he can hold up through the physical grind of the regular season. With veteran wideouts like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin battling injuries and depth being tested across the roster, the Buccaneers are searching for dependable options who can contribute immediately.
Rice’s arrival also comes as the team prepares for Week 7 — a crucial stretch that could define Tampa Bay’s playoff momentum. Head coach Todd Bowles and offensive coordinator Dave Canales have emphasized competition at every position, and Rice’s combination of pedigree and hunger fits perfectly into that philosophy.
According to sources close to Rice, he views the Buccaneers as a team that embodies the same grit and redemption mindset that fueled his father’s Hall of Fame journey. “He wants to earn it,” one source said. “He’s not looking for comfort — he’s looking for a chance to prove he belongs.”
If Rice passes his medicals and impresses during workouts, joining the Buccaneers could mark a pivotal new chapter in his NFL story — one that might finally allow him to step out of his father’s shadow and carve his own legacy under the Florida lights.
