Jaydon Mickens

Jaydon Mickens (born April 21, 1994) is an American football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington, and signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

College career
Mickens played college football at Washington, where he appeared in the majority of his career by changing his jersey number from 4 to 1 during his junior and senior years before he qualified for the 2016 NFL Draft. He had good, but unspectacular numbers, leading the team in receptions and receiving yards his junior and senior seasons but never cracking the Top 10 in the conference; he was the Huskies kick returner his freshman year, but only returned four punts over his college career, recording no touchdowns in either role.

Oakland Raiders
Mickens signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2016. He was waived by the Raiders on September 3, 2016 and was signed to the practice squad the next day. After spending the entire 2016 season on the practice squad, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Raiders on January 9, 2017. He was waived by the team on September 2, 2017.

Jacksonville Jaguars
On September 19, 2017, Mickens was signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on October 21, 2017. In Week 9, against the Cincinnati Bengals, he recorded a 63-yard punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter in a 23-7 win, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. In Week 14, Mickens had a 72-yard punt return, but was stopped on the one-yard line, which set up a touchdown to give the Jaguars a 14-point lead over the Seahawks, again winning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. As a receiver, he had just one reception prior to Week 15, but had four for 61 yards and two second-quarter touchdowns in a playoff-clinching 45-7 win over Houston.

On October 15, 2018, Mickens was placed on injured reserve after suffering a fractured ankle in Week 6.

Carolina Panthers
On July 24, 2019, Mickens was signed by the Carolina Panthers.