TRANSACTIONS: Signed by New England Patriots as a free agent via the NFL International Player Pathway Program, April 8, 2019…Released by Patriots, Aug. 31, 2019…Signed by Patriots to practice squad, Sept. 1, 2019…Re-signed by Patriots as a restricted free agent, March 25, 2021…Signed by Las Vegas Raiders as an unrestricted free agent, March 17, 2022.Â
- In 2022, played in 17 games with nine starts, recording five receptions for 10 yards. Â
- Played in 37 games with 20 starts over three seasons (2019-21) with the New England Patriots, totaling 13 receptions for 83 yards and one TD.Â
- Joined the NFL as part of the league's International Player Pathway Program in 2019 after playing for the Stuttgart Scorpions of the German Football League in 2018.Â
CAREER: Fullback enters his fifth NFL season and second with the Raiders…Made nine starts in his first season with the Silver and Black, recording five receptions for 10 yards…Played in 37 games with 20 starts in New England after joining the Patriots as part of the NFL's International Player Pathway Program…In 2021, played in all 17 games with six starts primarily as a lead blocker…In 2020, played in 16 games with 11 starts and totaled eight receptions for 35 yards and one TD…Played in four games as rookie in 2019 after being elevated from the team's practice squad…Played for the Stuttgart Scorpions in his native Germany in 2018…Career totals include 54 games played with 29 starts, totaling 18 receptions for 93 yards and one TD. Â
2022: Appeared in all 17 games with nine starts in his first season with the Silver and Black…Totaled five receptions for 10 yards…Added three tackles on special teams…(9/11) at LAC: Posted one reception for one yard...(9/25) at Ten.: Appeared on offense and special teams…Recorded one tackle…(10/10) at KC: Started at fullback and recorded one reception for five yards...(11/6) at Jac.: Credited with one tackle on special teams…(11/13) vs. Ind.: Played on offense and special teams…Posted one tackle…(11/20) at Den.: Caught one pass...(11/27) at Sea.: Paved the way for RB Josh Jacobs to rush for 229 yards, setting a new franchise record for most rushing yards in a game...(12/8) at LAR: Started at fullback and recorded one catch for one yard...(1/7/23) vs. KC: Caught one pass for three yards.Â
2021 (with NE): Played in all 17 games with six starts…Recorded four catches for 43 yards…Credited with two special teams tackles…(10/24) vs. NYJ: Had two catches for a career-high 32 yards, including a career-long 29-yard reception…Also played on a season-high 28 offensive snaps…(12/26) vs. Buf.: Had a 9-yard reception…Postseason: (1/15/22) at Buf.: Saw first-career postseason action in AFC Wild Card Game.Â
2020 (with NE): Played in 16 games with 11 starts at fullback…Played primarily as a lead blocker…Totaled eight receptions for 35 yards and one TD…Part of an offense that ranked No. 4 in the NFL in rushing yards (2,346) and rushing yards per game (146.6 avg.)…Both marks ranked fourth in franchise history…(9/13) vs. Mia.: Blocked for a rushing attack that produced 217 yards on the ground…(9/20) at Sea.: Caught first-career TD pass, a 1-yard reception in the fourth quarter…Became first player from NFL International Player Pathway Program to score an NFL TD…(9/27) vs. LV: Paved the way for 250 team rushing yards…Also had a 6-yard reception…(11/5) vs. Bal.: Registered two catches for 20 yards.Â
2019 (with NE): Played in four games with three starts as a rookie…Began season on the practice squad, switching positions from tight end to fullback…Signed to active roster from the practice squad prior to Week 2 of the regular season…(9/22) vs. NYJ: Made NFL debut…(9/29) at Buf.: Made first-career start…(10/6) at Was.: Had first-career reception for five yards…(10/10) vs. NYG: Started at fullback but did not finish the game due to injury…Placed on the Reserve/Injured list for the remainder of the season.Â
2018 (with Stuttgart Scorpions): Appeared in 12 games for the Stuttgart Scorpions of the German Football League…Played tight end and recorded 43 receptions for 474 yards and four TDs.Â
COLLEGE: Played four years at Tennessee, beginning his collegiate career as a linebacker before moving to tight end…Played in 47 games and totaled three receptions for 23 yards as a tight end and 24 total tackles as a linebacker on defense…Also returned two kickoffs for 25 yards…Earned SEC Academic Honor Roll honors for three-straight seasons…As a senior, had a career-long 13-yard catch against Indiana State…As a junior, played in 13 games and returned two kickoffs for 25 yards…Had two receptions for 10 yards against Tennessee Tech…As a sophomore, moved to tight end from linebacker…Played in 13 games, seeing action on special teams…Forced a fumble on special teams against Georgia…As a freshman, played in 12 games with two starts…Credited with 14 tackles…Posted four tackles against Chattanooga…Made first-career start against Missouri, posting three stops…Credited with three tackles at Vanderbilt…Notched two stops against Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl.Â
PERSONAL: Attended Jean Ribault High School in Jacksonville, Fla. …Played just one season, recording 112 tackles and six sacks to lead team to a 7-4 record…Named second-team All-Coast by the Florida Union Times…Tabbed as a four-star prospect, No. 12 inside linebacker and No. 35 prospect in Florida, by 247Sports.com…Named a three-star prospect by Rivals.com…A three-star prospect and No. 45-ranked inside linebacker by Scout.com…A three-star prospect and No. 50 inside linebacker by ESPN.com…Earned Florida Times-Union Super-24 recognition…Played for the U-19 Stuttgart Scorpions in his native Germany…First name is pronounced YAH-kob. Â
ADDITIONAL STATISTICS: Special teams tackles – 2 in 2021; 3 in 2022; NFL Totals: 5. Fumble Recoveries – 1 in 2020; NFL Totals: 1.Â
SINGLE-GAME HIGHS: RECEIVING: Receptions – 2, three times, last: 10/24/21 vs. NYJ. Yards – 32, 10/24/21 vs. NYJ. Long – 29, 10/24/21 vs. NYJ. Touchdowns – 1, 9/20/20 at Sea.