The Los Angeles Chargers today signed running back Jaret Patterson to the active roster from the practice squad. In addition, the Bolts signed running back Royce Freeman to the practice squad.
Patterson has appeared in 21 career games, including a start, with Washington and Los Angeles after entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He has played four games this season for the Bolts, running 32 times for 129 yards (4.0 avg.) and a touchdown. In his career, Patterson has totaled 473 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 117 attempts (4.0 avg.), while hauling in 10 passes for 73 yards (7.3 avg.). The Glendale, Md., native spent last season on the practice squad for the Bolts and Commanders.
In three seasons at the University at Buffalo (2018-20), Patterson was a two-time team captain and had three-straight 1,000-yard campaigns on the ground. Patterson finished his Bulls career ranked No. 1 rushing touchdowns (52) in program history and second in rushing yards (3,884) and 100-yard performances (15). He set single-season school records with 1,799 rushing yards and 19 touchdown runs in 2019, tying his own record a season later with another 19 rushing scores. Patterson ran for 409 yards and eight touchdowns against Kent State in 2020, the most rushing scores by any FBS player in over 25 years, eventually earning recognition as All-America from The Associated Press and Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
Freeman came into the NFL as a third-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft (71st overall) by Denver, appearing in 79 career regular-season games (nine starts) for the Broncos, Panthers, Texans and Rams. He has run for 1,792 yards and 10 touchdowns on 471 attempts (3.8 avg.), while adding 86 receptions for 532 yards (6.2 avg.) and a touchdown. Freeman played four years at the University of Oregon (2014-17), eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards each season. He finished his Ducks career as the all-time program leader in rushing yards (5,621), touchdown runs (60), rushing attempts (947), 100-yard rushing games (31), total touchdowns (64) and all-purpose yards (6,435). Freeman was a first-team All-Pacific 12 selection in 2015 when he set a single-season program record with 1,836 rushing yards.
