The undrafted free agent spent his rookie season on injured reserve.
JaQuae Jackson will be staying in the New England Patriots’ plans for 2025.
The wide receiver has been retained by the organization as an exclusive-rights free agent, according to a Wednesday report from NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo.
Jackson, 25, arrived in Foxborough during organized team activities last June after being waived by the Atlanta Falcons. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound undrafted rookie by way of Rutgers and California University of Pennsylvania went on to catch a 38-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Joe Milton III in his NFL preseason debut versus the Carolina Panthers.
JOE TO JAQUAE DIMEEEE!!@Qbjayy7 | @quaerid_9
: @wbzsports pic.twitter.com/OvSO4Mdo76
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 9, 2024
The following week, Jackson was carted off in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles after sustaining a non-contact leg injury during his lone offensive snap. He was placed on injured reserve ahead of the league’s 53-man roster deadline at the end of August. No injury settlement was reached from there.
A former Don Hansen Division II All-America honorable mention, D2CCA second-team All-Region and first-team All-PSAC West selection, Jackson made 12 starts for the Scarlet Knights in 2023. The transfer finished second on the team with 361 receiving yards while notching 22 catches and one touchdown.
New England previously signed defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr., a fellow exclusive-rights free agent, to a two-year extension on Monday.
The new league year officially opens on March 12 at 4 p.m. ET.