Russell Gage

Last updated

Russell Gage
Russell Gage Falcons SEP2021 (cropped).png
Gage with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021
No. 84 – San Francisco 49ers
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1996-01-22) January 22, 1996 (age 28)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:184 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school: Redemptorist
(Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
College: LSU (2014–2017)
NFL draft: 2018  / round: 6 / pick: 194
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Practice squad
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Receptions:244
Receiving yards:2,491
Receiving touchdowns:14
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Russell Gage Jr. (born January 22, 1996) is an American professional football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU, and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft. [1]

Contents

Early life

Gage attended and played high school football at Redemptorist High School. [2]

College career

Gage attended and played college football at LSU from 2014 to 2017. [3] He played defensive back for his first two seasons, but was brought onto the offense in Week 7 of his junior year for a key victory over #22 Texas A&M, where he led the run-heavy Tigers with five catches for 62 yards and a touchdown, his only receptions of the season. [4] He was used as both a running back and receiver in his senior year, generating four touchdowns on just 49 touches. He also recorded 11 tackles as a special teams gunner. [5]

College statistics

SeasonTeamConfClassGPReceivingRushing
RecYdsAvgTDAttYdsAvgTD
2014 LSU SEC FR1000.00000.00
2015 LSU SEC SO0000.00000.00
2016 LSU SEC JR756212.41000.00
2017 LSU SEC SR132128513.63282328.31
Career 212634713.34282328.31

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0 in
(1.83 m)
186 lb
(84 kg)
33 in
(0.84 m)
9+18 in
(0.23 m)
4.50 s1.54 s2.54 s4.25 s7.03 s39.0 in
(0.99 m)
10 ft 2 in
(3.10 m)
15 reps
All values from Pro Day [6]

Atlanta Falcons

Gage with the Falcons in 2018 Russell Gage.png
Gage with the Falcons in 2018

With modest college stats, Gage was not invited to the combine of any of the major award games, but attracted attention after an exceptional Pro Day and strong endorsement of his work ethic by coaches. [5] Gage was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round with the 194th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, four rounds behind fellow LSU wide receiver D. J. Chark. [7] In Week 6, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gage recorded his first professional reception, which went for six yards. [8] As a rookie, he totaled six receptions for 63 yards in 15 games on a team with deep talent at receiver. [9]

In Week 13 of the 2019 season, Gage recorded his first professional receiving touchdown against the New Orleans Saints. [10] Overall, Gage finished the 2019 season with 49 receptions for 446 receiving yards (fourth on the team behind Calvin Ridley, and pro-bowl-bound Julio Jones and Austin Hooper) and one receiving touchdown. [11]

With Jones injured for seven games and the departure of Hooper, in 2020 Gage became the second leading receiver for the 4–12 Falcons. [12] Gage's breakthrough game came in the home opener of September 13, a loss to the Seattle Seahawks where he had 114 receiving yards on nine receptions. [13] In the following week's game against the Dallas Cowboys, Gage caught six passes for 46 yards and another touchdown during the 40–39 loss. [14] In Week 14, against the Los Angeles Chargers, he threw a 39-yard touchdown reception to Calvin Ridley in the 20–17 loss. [15] Gage finished the 2020 season with 72 receptions for 786 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. [16]

The 2021 season was highlighted by 11 receptions for 130 yards in a 30–17 loss to the Buccaneers in Week 13, and catching 9 of 13 targets for 126 yards and a touchdown in a Week 18 loss to the Saints. [17] [18] The touchdown was both Gage's and quarterback Matt Ryan's last touchdowns as Atlanta Falcons. Gage missed two games due to injuries, but still was the Falcons' second leading receiver, behind rookie pro-bowler Kyle Pitts. [19] Gage finished the 2021 season with 66 receptions for 770 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns in 14 games. [20]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On March 18, 2022, Gage signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Buccaneers. [21] Gage spent five weeks on injured reserve. He had a career-best 12 receptions (for 87 yards and a touchdown) in a Week 3 loss to the Green Bay Packers. [22] He had his first career multi-touchdown game in a Week 14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. [23] Gage finished the 2022 season with 51 receptions for 426 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns in 13 games. [24]

On January 16, 2023, Gage suffered a neck injury during a Wild Card Round playoff game against the Cowboys and was carted off the field. [25] It was confirmed after the game by Todd Bowles that Gage had suffered a concussion from the contact and was being evaluated in a local hospital. [26] [27] [28] The following morning, it was confirmed by the team that Gage "had movement in all extremities" [29] and would remain hospitalized with more testing planned. [30] By Tuesday afternoon, it was reported by Bowles that Gage was planned to be released from the hospital by the end of the day. [31]

In 2023 during training camp, Gage suffered a torn patellar tendon and was placed on injured reserve on August 21, 2023. [32] On March 11, 2024, the Buccaneers chose to not pick up the option for the last year of Gage's contract, making him a free agent in the 2024 offseason. [33]

Baltimore Ravens

On August 6, 2024, Gage signed with the Baltimore Ravens. [34] On August 26, he was released by the Ravens as part of final roster cuts for the start of the 2024 season. [35]

San Francisco 49ers

On November 5, 2024, Gage was signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. [36]

NFL career statistics

YearTeamGamesReceiving
GPGSTgtRecYdsAvgLngTD
2018 ATL 1501066310.5220
2019 ATL 16474494469.1191
2020 ATL 1681107278610.9354
2021 ATL 149946677011.7494
2022 TB 131370514268.4235
2023 TB 00did not play due to injury
Total 74343572442,49110.14914

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References

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  2. "Russell Gage, Redemptorist, Athlete". 247Sports. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  3. "Russell Gage College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  4. "Derrius Guice runs for LSU-record 285 yards as Tigers roll". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 27, 2016. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Miller, Matt (April 28, 2018). "Russell Gage NFL Draft 2018: Scouting Report for Atlanta Falcons' Pick". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  6. "Russell Gage, LSU, WR, 2018 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
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  36. "49ers Trade for DL Khalil Davis, Add S Tashaun Gipson Sr. and WR Russell Gage". 49ers.com. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 5, 2024.