Patriots Place JaQuae Jackson on IR and Sign Matt Landers

JaQuae Jackson showed promise in his first NFL training camp, but his first professional season is over in mid-August. On Tuesday, the New England Patriots placed the rookie wide receiver on season-ending injured reserve. New England signed Matt Landers to take Jackson’s spot on the 90-man roster.

Jackson impressed in training camp. He received the highest offensive grade from Pro Football Focus in the Patriots preseason opener against the Panthers. Jackson hauled in the first (preseason) touchdown pass of Joe Milton III’s NFL career in the game.

Joe Milton with the 🚀🎯 for the @patriots TD!

📺: #CARvsNE on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/VtHbpnA0ri

— NFL (@NFL) August 9, 2024

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Unfortunately, Jackson’s second game did not go nearly as smoothly. He fell to the field with a non-contact leg injury against the Philadelphia Eagles in preseason Week 2. Jackson got carted off the field. It would be his last play of 2024. The specifics of his injury were not disclosed but the New England Patriots placed the rookie UDFA from Rutgers on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday.

Meet Matt Landers

The newest member of the Patriots is Matt Landers. He has taken a long journey to New England. Only 25, Landers played at three high schools, and three colleges, then signed with three NFL teams before arriving in Foxboro.

Landers began his collegiate career at Georgia, where he remained for four seasons. He transferred to Toledo for the 2021 season, then played for Arkansas in 2022. Landers was not selected in the 2023 NFL Draft despite posting the third-fastest time of any wide receiver (4.37) in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Matt Landers signed with the Seattle Seahawks following the draft. He was among their final cuts but got resigned to Seattle’s practice squad. The Seahawks released Landers on Sept. 20, 2023. He signed with the Carolina Panthers practice squad and spent 10 weeks with them before another release.

Landers spent time in 2024 with the Arlington Bandits and San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL. Both teams eventually released Landers. He signed with the Cleveland Browns on May 21, 2024 but was cut on Monday. The next day he signed with the Patriots.

It is not hard to see what football teams like about Matt Landers. He stands over 6-foot-4 and has blazing speed. Such attributes are always going to intrigue teams. The New England Patriots hope a little polishing will help them discover a diamond in the rough.