A preseason New England Patriots star from last year will get another chance with a new AFC team in 2025.
Ethan Hurwitz | 18 Hours Ago
August 8, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver JaQuae Jackson (82) scores a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images / Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Is this news true
Yes, this news is true. The Los Angeles Chargers officially signed wide receiver JaQuae Jackson on July 25, 2025.
JaQuae Jackson was indeed a preseason standout for the New England Patriots in 2024, but he suffered a season-ending ACL tear during a preseason game and was later released by the Patriots in April 2025. He now has a new opportunity with the Chargers.
Chargers Sign Former Patriots WR
A preseason New England Patriots star from last year will get another chance with a new AFC team in 2025
August 8, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver JaQuae Jackson (82) scores a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images / Eric Canha-Imagn Images
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Former Patriots Preseason Star JaQuae Jackson Finds New Home with Los Angeles Chargers for 2025 Season
Los Angeles, CA – July 27, 2025 – A familiar face from last year’s New England Patriots preseason, wide receiver JaQuae Jackson, has officially found a new opportunity in the AFC, signing with the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday, July 25, 2025. The move marks a fresh start for the promising wideout, whose 2024 season was tragically cut short by injury after a dazzling preseason performance.
Jackson, who had initially signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2024 before a subsequent release led him to New England, quickly became a training camp darling for the Patriots. His athleticism and playmaking ability were on full display, culminating in a memorable 39-yard touchdown reception from then-rookie quarterback Joe Milton III during a preseason contest against the Carolina Panthers on August 8, 2024. This highlight, captured in the striking image of Jackson celebrating his score at Gillette Stadium, seemed to cement his place as a potential breakout star.
However, the football gods had other plans. Just a week after his impressive touchdown, Jackson suffered a devastating non-contact ACL tear during a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The injury immediately ended his rookie campaign, placing him on injured reserve and casting a shadow over what had been a meteoric rise. Despite signing an exclusive rights free agent contract with the Patriots in February 2025 to remain with the team at the league minimum, Jackson was ultimately released in April following the 2025 NFL Draft, as New England moved in a different direction.
For months, Jackson had been a free agent, diligently rehabbing his knee and waiting for another chance to prove himself in the NFL. That chance has now arrived with Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers. In a corresponding move, the Chargers waived offensive lineman Elijah Ellis to make room for Jackson on the roster.
Jackson’s collegiate career was marked by resilience and production. He began at the California University of Pennsylvania, where he earned Division II All-America honors in 2022, showcasing his talent with 77 catches for 1,178 yards and 13 touchdowns. He then transferred to Rutgers for the 2023 season, where he continued to contribute, starting 12 of 13 games and tallying 22 catches for 361 yards and a touchdown. His journey, from a small school standout to a Division I transfer and then an undrafted NFL hopeful, has been defined by overcoming adversity.
“I want to be the best. I’m willing to put the work in. I’ve put in endless hours of work. I love the game,” Jackson told The Draft Network in April 2024, just before entering the league. “I’m going to absorb knowledge to be the best I can be. I’ve beaten adversity my entire life. I’ve never taken no for an answer. Every team should want a guy like that.”
Indeed, the Chargers clearly saw something in Jackson that resonated with that sentiment. Under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and General Manager Joe Hortiz, the Chargers are looking to build a physically tough and competitive roster. With the retirement of veteran wideout Mike Williams earlier this offseason, and the team already dealing with minor nagging injuries to other receivers like Jalen Reagor and undrafted rookie Luke Grimm, there is a clear opportunity for Jackson to carve out a role.
He joins a wide receiver room that includes burgeoning star Ladd McConkey and speed threat Tre Harris, whom the Chargers drafted early in the 2025 draft. Jackson will also reunite with former Patriots quarterback Taylor Heinicke (2017) and wide receiver Jalen Reagor (2023-24), who are also on the Chargers’ roster.
While Jackson faces an uphill battle to secure a spot on the 53-man roster, a strong showing in training camp and the upcoming preseason games could certainly earn him a place on the practice squad, keeping him in the Chargers’ system with an eye toward future contributions. His grit, determination, and the flashes of brilliance he displayed last preseason suggest that if he can stay healthy, JaQuae Jackson has the potential to make a significant impact for his new AFC team. His journey back from injury to a new NFL city will undoubtedly be one to watch.
