Jake Anthony Kumerow (born February 17, 1992) is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played college football at Illinois and UW–Whitewater, and was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He has also been a member of the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, and Buffalo Bills.

Jake Kumerow
refer to caption
Kumerow in 2021
Personal information
Born: (1992-02-17) February 17, 1992 (age 32)
Bartlett, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:209 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:South Elgin
(South Elgin, Illinois)
College:
Position:Wide receiver
Undrafted:2015
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:27
Receiving yards:436
Receiving touchdowns:3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

College career

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Kumerow originally attended Illinois. He caught 3 passes for 15 yards with the Illini. He then transferred to NCAA Division III school Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks. Kumerow finished with 158 receptions for 2,648 yards and 36 touchdowns for the Warhawks.

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
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 Wonderlic
6 ft 4+12 in
(1.94 m)
209 lb
(95 kg)
31+78 in
(0.81 m)
9+12 in
(0.24 m)
4.54 s 1.62 s 2.60 s 4.26 s 6.90 s 31.0 in
(0.79 m)
9 ft 5 in
(2.87 m)
15 reps 22[1]
All values from Pro Day[2]

Cincinnati Bengals

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Kumerow signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent on May 8, 2015.[3] He was released on September 5, 2015, and was signed to the practice squad the next day, where he spent his entire rookie season.[4][5] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Bengals on January 11, 2016.[6]

Kumerow was released by the Bengals on September 3, 2016, and was signed to the practice squad during the next day.[7][8] He was promoted to the active roster on December 27, 2016.[9]

On August 9, 2017, Kumerow was waived/injured by the Bengals after suffering an ankle injury and was placed on injured reserve.[10] He was released on September 22, 2017 with an injury settlement.

New England Patriots

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On October 26, 2017, Kumerow was signed to the New England Patriots' practice squad.[11] He was released on November 9, 2017.[12]

Green Bay Packers

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Kumerow with the Green Bay Packers in 2019

On December 26, 2017, Kumerow was signed to the Green Bay Packers' practice squad.[13] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Packers on January 2, 2018.[14]

On September 3, 2018, Kumerow was placed on injured reserve.[15] He was activated off injured reserve on December 1, 2018[16] and made his NFL debut the following day, in a week 13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He also recorded his first career reception, an 11-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers, during that game. On December 23, he scored his first NFL touchdown on a 49-yard reception against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

Kumerow returned to the Packers on March 11, 2019.[17]

On April 25, 2020, the Packers re-signed Kumerow as an exclusive-rights free agent, which kept him under contract for Green Bay for another year.[18][19] He was released during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, shortly after Rodgers had publicly praised his play.[20] As a result, Kumerow's release was later reported as a tipping point for Rodgers, who had developed a rapport with the receiver and was upset with Packers management over his departure.[21]

Buffalo Bills (first stint)

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On September 8, 2020, Kumerow was signed to the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills.[22] He was elevated to the active roster on November 7, November 14, and November 28 for the team's weeks 9, 10, and 12 games against the Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Chargers, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[23][24][25] He was promoted to the active roster on December 2, 2020.[26] Kumerow caught a touchdown pass from Josh Allen against the Denver Broncos in week 15, helping convert a second and goal from the 22-yard line.[27] He was waived on December 24, 2020 with starter John Brown returning from injured reserve.[28]

New Orleans Saints

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On December 25, 2020, Kumerow was claimed off waivers by the New Orleans Saints.[29] He was waived on January 9, 2021.[30] On January 13, 2021, Kumerow re-signed with the Saints practice squad.[31][32] He was released on January 18.[33]

Buffalo Bills (second stint)

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On January 26, 2021, Kumerow signed a reserve/futures contract with the Bills.[34] In the 2021 preseason, Bills quarterback Josh Allen joked that Kumerow was his favorite wide receiver, because his only regular season catch for the Bills was for a touchdown.[35]

On March 10, 2022, Kumerow signed a one-year contract extension with the Bills.[36] On June 16, Kumerow was released by the Bills for salary cap purposes and was re-signed the next day.[37] On November 17, after an ankle injury in a game against the Minnesota Vikings, he was placed on injured reserve.[38]

Kumerow never re-signed with the Bills and remained a free agent throughout the 2023 off-season.[39]

Personal life

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Kumerow is the son of former Miami Dolphins linebacker Eric Kumerow. He is also the nephew of former Dolphins defensive end John Bosa, and a cousin to Joey and Nick Bosa.[40] His sister Cortney was an All-American basketball player at UW-Whitewater, and their youngest brother Derek played football at Whitewater as well. His grandfather is former NFL Guard Palmer Pyle and his great-uncle is former Chicago Bears Center Mike Pyle. He is also the great-grandson of former Chicago Mob boss Tony Accardo.

Kumerow earned the nickname “Touchdown Jesus” originally in the preseason for the Packers due to his long hair and thick beard.[41]

NFL career statistics

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Regular season statistics
Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2018 GB 5 2 8 103 12.9 49 1 0 0
2019 GB 14 4 12 219 18.3 49 1 0 0
2020 BUF 6 0 1 22 22.0 22 1 0 0
2021 BUF 15 2 2 28 14.0 15 0 0 0
2022 BUF 6 1 4 64 16.0 39 0 0 0
Total 46 9 27 436 16.1 49 3 0 0
Source: NFL.com
Postseason statistics
Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2019 GB 2 0 1 23 23.0 23 0 0 0
2021 BUF 2 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2022 BUF 0 0 DNP
Total 4 0 1 23 23.0 23 0 0 0
Source: pro-football-reference.com

References

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  1. ^ McGinn, Bob (April 18, 2015). "State NFL draft prospects at a glance". JSOnline.com. Archived from the original on April 21, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  2. ^ "2015 Draft Scout Jake Kumerow, Wisconsin-Whitewater NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  3. ^ Marcum, Jason; Toback, Rebecca (May 8, 2015). "Bengals announce undrafted free agents signed". CincyJungle.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  4. ^ Toback, Rebecca (September 5, 2015). "Bengals roster cuts: Bengals 53-man roster 2015". CincyJungle.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  5. ^ Kirkendall, Josh (September 6, 2015). "Cincinnati Bengals 2015 practice squad announced". CincyJungle.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  6. ^ Marcum, Jason (January 11, 2016). "Jeff Luc among 5 Bengals signed to future contracts". CincyJungle.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  7. ^ Toback, Rebecca (September 3, 2016). "Bengals Roster 2016: Cincinnati's 53-man roster is set". CincyJungle.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  8. ^ Marcum, Jason (September 4, 2016). "Bengals 2016 practice squad: 9 players make initial practice squad". CincyJungle.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  9. ^ Toback, Rebecca (December 27, 2016). "Bengals sign two practice squad players to 53-man roster". CincyJungle.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  10. ^ Toback, Rebecca (August 9, 2017). "Bengals sign new punter; waive WR Jake Kumerow". CincyJungle.com.
  11. ^ "Patriots sign WR Jake Kumerow to the practice squad; Release DL Mike Purcell from the practice squad". Patriots.com. October 26, 2017.
  12. ^ "Patriots Claim TE Martellus Bennett Off Waivers from Green Bay; Release DL Geneo Grissom; Make Changes to the Practice Squad". Patriots.com. November 9, 2017. Archived from the original on February 14, 2018.
  13. ^ "Packers place T Jason Spriggs on IR, sign TE Emanuel Byrd". Packers.com. December 26, 2017.
  14. ^ "Packers sign five free agents". Packers.com. January 2, 2018.
  15. ^ "Packers sign LB Toomer, place WR Kumerow on IR". Packers.com. September 3, 2018. Archived from the original on September 3, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  16. ^ "Packers activate Jake Kumerow to 53-man roster". Packers.com. December 1, 2018.
  17. ^ "Packers use exclusive rights tender to bring back WR Jake Kumerow". packerswire.com. March 11, 2019.
  18. ^ "Packers tender all 5 exclusive rights free agents". packerswire.usatoday.com. March 17, 2020.
  19. ^ "Report: Jake Kumerow, Robert Tonyan sign ERFA deals with Packers". 247sports.com. April 24, 2020.
  20. ^ "Packers announce roster moves". Packers.com. September 5, 2020.
  21. ^ Kruse, Zach (May 3, 2021). "Report: Packers releasing Jake Kumerow was 'death knell' in relationship with Aaron Rodgers". Packers Wire. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  22. ^ Brown, Chris (September 8, 2020). "BIlls sign WR Jake Kumerow to the practice squad". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  23. ^ "Bills place Matt Milano on injured reserve; activate LB Del'Shawn Phillips". BuffaloBills.com. November 7, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  24. ^ "Josh Norman tests positive for COVID-19, 3 other players placed on reserve/COVID-19 list". BuffaloBills.com. November 14, 2020. Archived from the original on December 20, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  25. ^ "John Brown, Cody Ford placed on injured reserve; Two elevated for Sunday". BuffaloBills.com. November 28, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  26. ^ "Bills promote Jake Kumerow to the 53-man roster". BuffaloBills.com. December 2, 2020.
  27. ^ "Former Packers WR Jake Kumerow catches first TD pass with Bills". Packers Wire. December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  28. ^ "Bills cut WR Jake Kumerow with John Brown set to return". AP NEWS. December 24, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  29. ^ "Saints claim WR Jake Kumerow off of waivers from Bills". Saints Wire. USA Today. December 25, 2020.
  30. ^ "Jake Kumerow: Cut loose by Saints". CBS Sports. January 9, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  31. ^ Trahan, Ken (January 13, 2021). "Saints WR Tre'Quan Smith designated to return from injured reserve". Crescent City Sports. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  32. ^ Just, Amie (January 13, 2021). "Saints shuffle practice squad roster, release veterans K Blair Walsh, LS John Denney". NOLA.com. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  33. ^ Bouda, Nate (January 18, 2021). "Saints Sign 13 Players To Futures Deals, Release WR Jake Kumerow From PS". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  34. ^ "Bills signed these 13 players to reserve/future contracts". www.buffalobills.com. January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  35. ^ "Bills camp Day 14: Greg Rousseau with another sack, Josh Allen's favorite WR?". syracuse. August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  36. ^ "Bills agree to terms with Jake Kumerow". BuffaloBills.com. March 10, 2022.
  37. ^ "Bills cut Jake Kumerow, will re-sign wide receiver". billswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  38. ^ "Bills place Jake Kumerow on injured reserve". Bills Wire. November 18, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  39. ^ "Aaron Rodgers' Old Friend Currently Available on NFL Free Agent Market - Sports Illustrated New York Jets News, Analysis and More". Sports Illustrated New York Jets News, Analysis and More. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  40. ^ Wertheim, Jon (May 2, 2019). "Nick Bosa and the 2019 Draft's Oddest Note". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  41. ^ "Jake Kumerow lands on Buffalo Bills practice squad". 247Sports. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
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