Former Washington Huskies tight end Jack Westover took the long road to achieving his dream of playing in the NFL, which came true on Sunday when the New England Patriots activated him off their practice squad to make his professional debut against the Miami Dolphins.
After suffering a broken collarbone during his senior year of high school, Westover walked on to Chris Petersen’s squad in 2019 and played for his hometown team for five years, earning a scholarship during the 2020 season.
He accrued 87 catches for 849 yards and 8 total touchdowns during his career, fighting through a ruptured ligament and multiple pieces of chipped bone in his wrist, along with a partially torn calf during Washington’s run to the national championship. Westover was also named an All-Pac-12 honorable mention during the 2023 season.
Then, just like in high school recruiting, Westover was passed over during the 2024 NFL draft and went undrafted. But, also like in high school recruiting, his hometown team took a chance on him, and he was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as a priority undrafted free agent.
However, he was unable to make the roster at the start of the season and was signed to the New England Patriots practice squad in early October. After remaining in reserve, the Patriots activated him for their Week 12 matchup with the Dolphins on the road, where he gets an opportunity to play alongside his college running mate, wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk.