Tag: Isaiah Zuber

Raiders T Brandon Parker again lost for season with camp injury

For second straight year, Brandon Parker’s season is over before it began

Just a few days ago, Brandon Parker stood in front of us to talk about his hopes for making a comeback this year after an injury suffered in training camp cost him last season.

It was just prior to the start of joint practices and I asked him about the open competition last year and how it has changed in this year’s camp.

“It’s still a tough competition,” said Parker. “Jermaine Eluemunor played really great last year, Thayer [Munford Jr.] played really great as well. So, in order for me to even be in the mix, I have to step my game up because they both have evolved in the following year. So, every time I see them kind of do it right, I’m trying to get right up there with them because competition breeds excellence. So, it doesn’t do anything but help us all if everybody else is getting better.”

Now he has been placed on injured reserve, which means he is again lost for the season and thus the competition at right tackle.

A third round pick by the Raiders in 2018, he was one of the longest tenured Raiders players. After starting 13 games in 2021, the team brought him back on a one year deal. He entered into an open competition at the right tackle spot and would never really get that shot after an injury suffered in the Hall of Fame Game would end his season before it began.

The team brought him back again this offseason, giving him another shot at competing for the job, or at least competing for the jumbo package and reserve swing tackle spot.

But, once again, it was not to be. This time he was lost even before the first preseason game, suffering the injury last week in joint practices with the 49ers.

In a corresponding move, the Raiders brought back wide receiver Isaiah Zuber.

Raiders sign former Patriots receiver Isaiah Zuber

Raiders add former Patriots WR and USFL receiving TD leader

Just under the wire for training camp, Josh McDaniels nabbed another familiar face. His name is Isaiah Zuber and he spent the better part of the past two years in New England under McDaniels.

Zuber went undrafted out of Mississippi State in 2020 and was signed by the Patriots. Following camp, he was signed to the practice squad where he remained all that season and was elevated four times, with four touches for 50 yards.

He would return for the 2021 offseason and training camp, but was waived in the final cuts and signed onto the 49ers practice squad. From there he spent time on the practice squads of the Browns and Jets.

This offseason he was drafted in the 13th round by the USFL’s Houston Gamblers where his five touchdown reception led the league.

Prior to transferring to Miss St as a fifth year senior, the 6-0, 190-pounder had consecutive 50-catch season at Kansas State totaling 1129 receiving yards with nine touchdowns. He also returned 12 kicks for 189 yards.

He joins the likes of RB Brandon Bolden, FB Jakob Johnson, and QB Jarrett Stidham as former Patriots players reuniting with McDaniels in Las Vegas.

4 things to know about new Jets WR Isaiah Zuber

Isaiah Zuber’s career has included multiple college stops and a stint with the Patriots. Get to know the new Jets practice squad receiver.

Injuries and COVID-19 have left the Jets paper-thin at wide receiver. Joe Douglas made an effort to bolster New York’s depth at the position last week, though, signing Isaiah Zuber to the practice squad.

Zuber has already spent time with four different teams despite having yet to complete his second year in the NFL. The 24-year-old has the talent in a pinch if the Jets need him, though, and there is a chance he could sniff the active roster if injuries and COVID issues continue to pile up.

Here are four things to know about New York’s newest wideout.

Jets make 2 more practice squad additions

The Jets signed WR Isaiah Zuber and CB Ken Webster to their practice squad.

With their roster ravaged by COVID-19 and injuries, the Jets continued to add reinforcements on Wednesday.

New York made two practice squad additions, signing WR Isaiah Zuber and CB Ken Webster.

Zuber entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Patriots in 2020. The Mississippi State product played in four games for New England as a rookie, catching two passes for 29 yards. He also ran twice for 21 yards. Zuber has since spent time with the 49ers and Browns practice squads.

Webster also spent time with the Niners and Patriots. He spent the 2020 season and this past summer with San Francisco. Webster was picked by the Patriots in the seventh round of the 2019 draft. The Ole Miss talent was cut as a rookie and claimed by the Dolphins. He’s made five NFL starts and picked up 25 tackles, one defended pass and one forced fumble in 17 career games.

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Patriots WR Isaiah Zuber details confidence level heading into Year 2

The undrafted receiver feels much more comfortable heading into his second year.

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Second-year wide receiver Isaiah Zuber showed flashes of potential in the two games he appeared in last season.

Zuber was undrafted out of Mississippi State and he proved to be a threat on the ground and in the air with his minimal exposure. He had two receptions for 29 yards and two rushes for 13 yards. Zuber has stood out thus far in the Patriots’ OTAs and he’s a player to look out for with minicamp upon us.

While speaking with reporters last week following OTAs, Zuber detailed his confidence level heading into his second season.

“Being in the offense for a whole year, I’m more comfortable now, I feel more like myself out there,” Zuber said, transcribed by WEEI. “I’m not doing too much thinking. I’m just going out there and playing being able to play fast.”

The Patriots will have some time off after minicamp, but Zuber knows he needs to remain locked in.

“More studying, make sure I get everything down too, all the little stuff,” Zuber said. “Most of the time you probably don’t know your route but you have to know if it’s this coverage you’re doing this, if it’s this coverage then you’re doing this. That’s more of the stuff I’m worried about right now.”

New England’s depth at receiver currently consists of Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers, N’Keal Harry, Gunner Olszewski, Tre Nixon, Kristian Wilkerson, Devin Smith and Matthew Slater.

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Patriots sign 10 players to futures contracts for 2021

New England retains a quarterback, two kickers and three receivers.

The New England Patriots have signed ten players to futures contracts for 2021, with one quarterback, three receivers, one guard, two kickers, two defensive tackles and one cornerback.

All ten of the players came off New England’s practice squad from 2020. Teams can extend futures contracts to anyone who wasn’t on a roster at the end of Week 17.

These contracts don’t take effect until the 2021 NFL season begins in March when the players will be added to the 90-man roster. The futures contracts are generally minimum-salary deals, with little or no signing bonus. The Patriots did not announce the terms to any of these deals.

4 takeaways from Patriots hard-to-watch 18-12 loss to Broncos in Week 6

Here are four takeaways from the Patriots’ difficult tough loss to the Broncos.

Complications from COVID-19, injuries and opt-outs are really starting to catch up to the New England Patriots.

Cam Newton missed the Week 4 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, resulting in a tough 26-10 loss. The Patriots have barely practiced over the past couple weeks due to COVID-19 restrictions and that noticeably caught up to them in a 18-12 loss to the Denver Broncos.

If it wasn’t for Denver being held to field goals throughout the game, the score would’ve much higher. Newton couldn’t get the offense going and the rush attack was close to being nonexistent.

Here are four takeaways from the game.

Depleted offensive line had major struggles

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Heading into the game, the Patriots were already missing Shaq Mason, James Ferentz and David Andrews. Isaiah Wynn started at left guard and sixth-rounder Justin Herron took over at left tackle  — with Joe Thuney (C), Michael Onwenu (RG) and Jermaine Eluemunor (RT) holding on the other side.

Eluemunor left with an ankle injury and was quickly ruled out of the game, after screaming in pain when he fell. The Patriots threw 2019 fourth-rounder Hjalte Froholdt at right tackle and it made for a difficult day. New England rushed for 117 yards and it was well below their season average (179).

Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jon Jones have huge days

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The Patriots wouldn’t have had a chance in the game if it wasn’t for Jonathan Jones and his big-time plays against Denver. He had two huge stops in the end zone on the first drive of the game and the relentlessness didn’t stop. Jones’ much-needed interception came after J.C. Jackson came away with a momentum-changing interception.

Twitter took note of it.

Ja’Whaun Bentley was hard-hitting and shifted momentum when the defensive couldn’t stop Phillip Lindsay’s rushing attack. Bentley recorded 13 total tackles, a clutch sack, 2 tackles for loss and a quarterback hit.

Receiving corps struggled mightily

Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

The Patriots receivers looked really bad against a bad team. Julian Edelman’s highlights came as a passer and N’Keal Harry failed to record a pass. Damiere Byrd was the only receiver with more than two catches (3) and more than 20 yards (38) in the game.

New England’s leading receiver was James White (8 catches, 65 yards) and the second-best pass-catcher was Ryan Izzo (3 catches, 38 yards). Obviously the offensive line struggles didn’t help, but Newton had no options to go to when he needed them most.

With the Patriots’ excessive cap space, they would be much better off if they traded for a receiver.

Road to win AFC East looking more and more difficult

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The Patriots share a 2-3 record with the Miami Dolphins in the AFC East and they both trail the 4-1 Buffalo Bills.

Buffalo’s defense stepped it up a notch this season and Josh Allen is coming into his own. Stefon Diggs changed the complexion of the offense and a matchup agains the Kansas City Chiefs will show the true potential of this team. It’s very difficult to see a world in which the Patriots lead the AFC East at the end of the season.

The Patriots have the San Francisco 49ers, Bills, Jets, Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans on the schedule ahead.

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