3 days Ago By Oliver Thomas
Wide receiver Alex Erickson and linebacker Monty Rice reverted to the New England Patriots ’ practice squad on Monday after serving as standard elevations at Gillette Stadium. The 40-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers marked the second consecutive call-up for both veterans of the kicking game. Erickson, 32, played 11 snaps on special teams on Saturday.
The 6-foot, 195-pound wideout and returner fielded a pair of punts, breaking free for 15 yards before fair catching the next. And his time back deep for kickoffs brought an additional 90 yards through a trio of chances, including a long of 34. Now 109 NFL games in, Erickson made his 2024 debut the week prior after signing midway through December.
The Wisconsin product entered the league with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2016. Stints with the Houston Texans , Carolina Panthers , Washington Commanders , New York Jets and Chargers followed. The career spans 112 catches for 1,373 yards and two touchdowns for Erickson, who has also had a hand in 1,318 yards across 164 punt returns and 2,819 yards across 113 kick returns.
Rice, 25, has totaled 26 snaps on special teams through back-to-back call-ups. He split a tackle with reigning NFLPA All-Pro gunner Brenden Schooler on Saturday’s opening kickoff. Signing in November, the 6-foot, 233-pound linebacker originally entered the NFL with the Tennessee Titans at pick No.
92 overall in the 2021 class. Rice appeared in 35 games and started 10 during his stay with the organization that drafted him, finishing with 128 tackles and a pair of pass deflections over the course of 631 snaps on defense and 412 snaps on special teams. After being claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Saints last December, the Georgia product was part of the 53-man roster deadline in August.
He went on to join the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons at its formation and became a free agent in October. Both are eligible to be elevated for a third and final time leading up to the finale. Currently holding the rights to the No.
1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, head coach Jerod Mayo’s 3-13 side closes out the campaign against the No. 2 seed Buffalo Bills . The AFC East kickoff in Foxborough is now set for Sunday at 1 p.
m. ET..
