| Personal information | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born: | 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 | |||||||||
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| Career CFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR · CFL.ca | |||||||||
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.
After going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, Spencer participated in spring mini-camp with the Chicago Bears.[2][3]
Spencer signed with the St. Louis Rams on May 27, 2014.[4] Spencer was waived by the team in July.[5]
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.
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.
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]
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]
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]