Diontae Spencer

Diontae Spencer (born March 19, 1992) is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is a free agent. Born in New Iberia, Louisiana, he played college football with the McNeese State Cowboys, where his highest one-game total had been 365 yards, with five touchdowns.[1] He made his professional debut for the Toronto Argonauts (CFL) in 2015. Spencer has also been a member of the St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL and Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL.

Diontae Spencer
Personal information
Born: (1992-03-19) March 19, 1992
New Iberia, Louisiana, U.S.
Height:5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight:170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High school:Westgate
New Iberia, Louisiana
College:McNeese State
Position:Wide receiver / return specialist
Undrafted:2014
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 6, 2022
Receptions:10
Receiving yards:54
Return yards:1,675
Total touchdowns:1
Career CFL statistics
Receptions:259
Receiving yards:3,137
Receiving touchdowns:19
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR · CFL.ca

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, Spencer participated in spring mini-camp with the Chicago Bears.[2][3]

St. Louis Rams

Spencer signed with the St. Louis Rams on May 27, 2014.[4] Spencer was waived by the team in July.[5]

Toronto Argonauts

Spencer signed with the Toronto Argonauts in December 2014.[6] Spencer had a productive two seasons in Toronto, catching 107 passes for 1,208 yards with six touchdowns. He also returned 39 punts and 27 kickoff returns.

Ottawa Redblacks

On the second day of free agency Spencer signed with the Ottawa Redblacks.[7] On October 27, 2017, in a game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Spencer set a CFL single-game record with 496 all-purpose yards: 133 yards receiving, 165 kick-off return yards and 169 punt return yards.[8] Overall, Spencer had an exceptional 2017 campaign with the Redblacks, catching 71 passes for 922 yards with six touchdowns. He also returned 70 punts and 25 kickoffs, and was named a CFL-East All-Star as a returner. On January 31, 2018 Spencer had a workout with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens.[9] Nevertheless, less than one week before becoming a free agent Spencer and the Redblacks agreed on a contract extension on February 7, 2018.[10] Despite recording his first 1,000 yard season in 2018, Spencer did not make the CFL-East All-Star list as a receiver, but did make it as a returner[11] for the 11–7 Redblacks, who finished the year at the top of the division. After advancing to the CFL championship game, Spencer had a costly fumble on a return, and the Redblacks lost the 106th Grey Cup to Calgary, 27–16.

Pittsburgh Steelers

On January 4, 2019, Spencer signed a reserve/future contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL.[12] He was waived on August 31, 2019.[13]

Denver Broncos

On September 1, 2019, Spencer was claimed off waivers by the Denver Broncos.[14] Spencer signed a one-year exclusive-rights free agent tender with the Broncos on April 18, 2020.[15] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 27, 2020,[16] and activated on December 10.[17] Spencer had his first career NFL touchdown in Week 14 of the 2020 season, when he returned a punt 83 yards against the Carolina Panthers during the 32–27 win.[18] Spencer was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in Week 14.[19]

The Broncos placed another exclusive-rights free agent tender on Spencer on March 16, 2021.[20] He signed the one-year contract on April 16.[21]

New York Jets

On September 6, 2022, Spencer signed with the practice squad of the New York Jets.[22] He was released from the practice squad on September 14.[23] He was then re-signed to the practice squad on September 20.[24] He was once again released from the practice squad a week later.[25] He was re-signed on October 11.[26] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 31, 2023.[27] He was placed on injured reserve on July 19, 2023,[28] but released with an injury settlement nine days later.[29]

References
  1. Dunk, Justin (October 28, 2017). "Diontae Spencer will give jersey from record-breaking game to mom – 3DownNation". 3DownNation. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  2. "Chicago Bears Mini-Camp – Undrafted Rookies to Watch". Bear Goggles On. May 18, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  3. "RamView". ramview.blogspot.ca. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  4. "Rams sign speedy kick returner". Turf Show Times. May 27, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  5. Wagoner, Nick (July 6, 2014). "Get to know a rookie: Diontae Spencer". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  6. "BIG's Diontae Spencer WR/KR Signs With Toronto Argonauts of CFL". bombasticview.com. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  7. "Diontae Spencer excited to show off moves for Redblacks". Ottawa Sun. February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  8. "Diontae Spencer sets yardage record in Redblacks' wild win over Ticats | CBC Sports". CBC. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  9. "Top pending free agent receiver Diontae Spencer works out for Ravens – 3DownNation". 3DownNation. February 7, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  10. "REDBLACKS sign extensions with Spencer, MacMillan – CFL.ca". CFL.ca. February 7, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  11. "Star Power: 2018 CFL Divisional All-Stars announced". November 7, 2018.
  12. Popejoy, Curt (January 4, 2019). "Steelers sign LB Tegray Scales and WR Diontae Spencer Reserve/Future contracts". Steelers Wire. USA Today. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  13. Varley, Teresa (August 31, 2019). "Steelers make roster cuts". Steelers.com. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  14. DiLalla, Aric (September 1, 2019). "Broncos claim four players off waivers, sign seven players to practice squad". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  15. DiLalla, Aric (April 18, 2020). "Elijah Wilkinson, Mike Purcell highlight list of Broncos to sign tenders". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  16. DiLalla, Aric (November 27, 2020). "Broncos place WR Diontae Spencer on Reserve/COVID-19 list". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  17. DiLalla, Aric (December 10, 2020). "Broncos activate WR Diontae Spencer from Reserve/COVID-19 list". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  18. Legwold, Jeff (December 13, 2020). "Broncos' Diontae Spencer spins away and takes off for punt return TD". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  19. Gordon, Grant (December 16, 2020). "Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, Rams RB Cam Akers lead Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  20. DiLalla, Aric (March 16, 2021). "Broncos place second-round tenders on RFAs Tim Patrick, Alexander Johnson, also tender Phillip Lindsay, several ERFAs". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  21. "2021 NFL Transactions: Signings – April". NFL.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  22. "Jets Sign 3 Players to Practice Squad". NewYorkJets.com. September 6, 2022.
  23. Greenberg, Ethan (September 14, 2022). "Jets Sign S Will Parks to Active Roster". Newyorkjets.com. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  24. Greenberg, Ethan (September 20, 2022). "Jets Sign WR-KR Diontae Spencer to Practice Squad". Newyorkjets.com. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  25. Greenberg, Ethan (September 27, 2022). "Jets Sign OL Cedric Ogbuehi, Place OL George Fant on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com.
  26. Greenberg, Ethan (October 11, 2022). "Jets Sign WR-KR Diontae Spencer to Practice Squad". NewYorkJets.com.
  27. Greenberg, Ethan (January 31, 2023). "Jets Sign WR-KR Diontae Spencer to Reserve/Future Deal". NewYorkJets.com.
  28. Greenberg, Ethan (July 19, 2023). "Jets Place RB Breece Hall, 3 Others on Active/PUP list". NewYorkJets.com.
  29. "Diontae Spencer: Let go by New York". CBSSports.com. July 28, 2023.
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