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Hall of Famer’s Son Rejects Chargers Practice Squad for Eagles Workout — Believes Philly Can Help Him Become a Star Like His Father

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Just days before the 2025 NFL season kicks off, the Philadelphia Eagles have added a spark of intrigue to their wide receiver room. And it comes with one of the most famous names in football history.

The Los Angeles Chargers had plans to keep wideout Brenden Rice — son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice — on their practice squad after releasing him this week. But the 2024 seventh-round pick wasn’t interested in waiting quietly on the sidelines. Instead, he declined the offer, boarded a flight east, and showed up in Philadelphia for a workout that has instantly turned heads across the league.

For Rice, it’s a gamble rooted in ambition. He could have stayed with the Chargers, but the Eagles offered something Los Angeles couldn’t: a bigger stage, a hungrier fanbase, and the chance to build a career that lives up to the shadow of his legendary father.

“Few cities understand legacy the way Philly does,” one NFC scout said. “If Brenden Rice wants to prove he’s more than just a name, this is the place to do it.”

Rice’s rookie year in Los Angeles was limited to just three appearances, and his NFL résumé has yet to match his pedigree. But his physical traits — size, toughness, and the ability to win contested catches — fit perfectly into Philadelphia’s system. With Jalen Hurts under center and a deep-but-rotating receiver corps, the Eagles know the value of having insurance at wideout.

The timing is striking. Philadelphia recently traded for John Metchie III and is expected to add Javon Baker to the practice squad. Even so, depth at receiver remains a priority, especially with the Eagles preparing for a title defense.

At Notre Dame, Rice showed flashes of what he can bring — a big target who plays with physicality and doesn’t shy away from contact. The question now is whether he can transfer that potential into consistent NFL production.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, offers something Rice couldn’t find in Los Angeles: a culture built on grit, accountability, and fan expectations that don’t allow players to coast. Eagles fans have seen legends rise, and they’ve seen names with hype fade away. Rice’s choice to step into this environment instead of accepting the “safe” route is telling.

For Brenden Rice, it’s not just about chasing a roster spot. It’s about proving he belongs on the field — and that his story won’t just be remembered as Jerry Rice’s son trying to find his place.

If the Eagles keep him around, the midnight green faithful may soon have another Rice to cheer for. And in Philadelphia, where legacy collides with grit, that could be the perfect formula for the next breakout story.

Eagles Head Coach Announces A.J. Brown To Start On The Bench For Standout Rookie After Poor Performance vs. Broncos
  Philadelphia, PA — the Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach confirmed that A.J. Brown will start on the bench in Week 6 against the New York Giants, with the boundary starting spot going to rookie WR Taylor Morin—an undrafted signing out of Wake Forest who flashed through rookie camp and the preseason. The decision follows an underwhelming offensive showing against the Denver Broncos, where several snaps highlighted the unit being out of sync between Brown and Jalen Hurts. On a midfield option route, Hurts read Cover-2 and waited for an inside break into the soft spot, while Brown maintained a vertical stem and widened to the boundary to stretch the corner. The ball fell into empty space and the drive stalled. On a separate red-zone snap, a pre-snap hot-route signal wasn’t locked identically by the pair, resulting in a hurried throw that was broken up. The staff treated it as a reminder about route-depth precision, timing, and pre-snap communication—the micro-details that underpin the Eagles’ offense when January football arrives. Starting Morin is part of a plan to re-establish rhythm: the early script is expected to emphasize horizontal spacing, short choice/option concepts, and over routes off play-action to probe the Giants’ responses. Morin—who has shown strong hands in tight windows and clean timing in the preseason—should give the call sheet a steadier platform, while Brown will be “activated” in high-leverage downs such as 3rd-and-medium, two-minute, and red zone to maximize his body control, early separation, and the coverage gravity that can force New York to roll coverage. Facing the tough call, Brown kept his response brief but competitive:“I can’t accept letting a kid take my spot, but I respect his decision. Let’s see what we’re saying after the game. I’ll practice and wait for my chance. When the ball is in the air, everyone will know who I am.” Operationally, the staff is expected to streamline the call sheet between Hurts and Brown: standardize option-route depths, clearly flag hot signals, and increase game-speed reps in 7-on-7 and team periods so both are “seeing it the same and triggering the same.” Handing the start to Morin also resets the locker-room standard: every role is earned by tape and daily detail—even for a star of Brown’s caliber. If Brown converts the message into cleaner stems and precise landmarks—catching the ball at the spot and on time—the Eagles anticipate early returns: fewer dead drives, better red-zone execution when back-shoulder throws and choice routes are run “in the same language,” and an offense that regains tempo before taking on Big Blue. With Taylor Morin in the opening script, Philadelphia hopes the fresh piece is enough to jump-start the attack from the first series.