.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 29) 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: 6th round, 194th pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Russell Gage Jr. (born January 22, 1996) is an American professionalfootballwide receiver for theSan Francisco 49ers of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football atLSU, and was drafted by theAtlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the2018 NFL draft.[1]
Gage attended and playedhigh school football atRedemptorist High School.[2]
Gage attended and playedcollege football at LSU from 2014 to 2017.[3] He playeddefensive back for his first two seasons, but was brought onto the offense in Week 7 of his junior year for a key victory over #22Texas A&M, where he led the run-heavy Tigers with five catches for 62 yards and atouchdown, his onlyreceptions of the season.[4] He was used as both arunning back andreceiver in his senior year, generating four touchdowns on just 49 touches. He also recorded 11tackles as aspecial teamsgunner.[5]
| Season | Team | Conf | Class | GP | Receiving | Rushing | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |||||
| 2014 | LSU | SEC | FR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2015 | LSU | SEC | SO | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2016 | LSU | SEC | JR | 7 | 5 | 62 | 12.4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2017 | LSU | SEC | SR | 13 | 21 | 285 | 13.6 | 3 | 28 | 232 | 8.3 | 1 |
| Career | 21 | 26 | 347 | 13.3 | 4 | 28 | 232 | 8.3 | 1 | |||
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-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+1⁄8 in (0.23 m) | 4.50 s | 1.54 s | 2.54 s | 4.25 s | 7.03 s | 39.0 in (0.99 m) | 10 ft 2 in (3.10 m) | 15 reps | |
| All values fromPro Day[6] | ||||||||||||
With modest college stats, Gage was not invited to thecombine 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 theAtlanta Falcons in the sixth round with the 194th overall pick in the2018 NFL draft, four rounds behind fellow LSU wide receiverD. J. Chark.[7] In Week 6, against theTampa 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 theNew Orleans Saints.[10] Overall, Gage finished the 2019 season with 49 receptions for 446 receiving yards (fourth on the team behindCalvin Ridley, and pro-bowl-boundJulio Jones andAustin 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 theSeattle Seahawks where he had 114 receiving yards on nine receptions.[13] In the following week's game against theDallas Cowboys, Gage caught six passes for 46 yards and another touchdown during the 40–39 loss.[14] In Week 14, against theLos Angeles Chargers, he threw a 39-yard touchdown reception toCalvin 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 quarterbackMatt 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-bowlerKyle Pitts.[19] Gage finished the 2021 season with 66 receptions for 770 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns in 14 games.[20]
On March 18, 2022, Gage signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Buccaneers.[21] Gage spent five weeks oninjured reserve. He had a career-best 12 receptions (for 87 yards and a touchdown) in a Week 3 loss to theGreen Bay Packers.[22] He had his first career multi-touchdown game in a Week 14 loss to theCincinnati 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 aWild Card Round playoff game against the Cowboys and was carted off the field.[25] It was confirmed after the game byTodd 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 atorn 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]
On August 6, 2024, Gage signed with theBaltimore 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]
On November 5, 2024, Gage was signed to theSan Francisco 49ers practice squad.[36] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 7, 2025.[37]
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 2018 | ATL | 15 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 63 | 10.5 | 22 | 0 |
| 2019 | ATL | 16 | 4 | 74 | 49 | 446 | 9.1 | 19 | 1 |
| 2020 | ATL | 16 | 8 | 110 | 72 | 786 | 10.9 | 35 | 4 |
| 2021 | ATL | 14 | 9 | 94 | 66 | 770 | 11.7 | 49 | 4 |
| 2022 | TB | 13 | 13 | 70 | 51 | 426 | 8.4 | 23 | 5 |
| 2023 | TB | 0 | 0 | did not play due to injury | |||||
| Total | 74 | 34 | 357 | 244 | 2,491 | 10.1 | 49 | 14 | |
