Typically, it takes an harm to arrange a formidable rookie efficiency, because the Giants‘ Tyrone Tracy Jr. and the Dolphins‘ Jaylen Wright confirmed final weekend.
Tracy, pressed into a bigger position with Devin Singletary out, stepped up in an enormous method, dashing for 129 yards on 18 carries within the Giants’ upset at Seattle. The fifth-round choose from Iowa and Purdue had totaled 29 yards on 12 carries within the first 4 weeks, however he performed a key position in New York’s street win. Tracy was primarily a receiver at Iowa and had totaled simply 231 dashing yards earlier than shining for the Boilermakers final yr with 716 yards and eight touchdowns. His efficiency on Sunday could not make Giants followers neglect about Saquon Barkley any time quickly, nevertheless it’s a pleasant affect in a win for a low-round choose.
Wright’s robust displaying got here in a much-needed Dolphins win over New England. With De’Von Achane sidelined with a concussion, the fourth-round choose from Tennessee rushed for 86 yards on 13 carries, outpacing Raheem Mostert. Wright had 42 of these yards on the fourth-quarter drive that gave Miami the lead, and that does not embody a 35-yard run that was worn out by a holding penalty. With the Dolphins on their third quarterback, getting an affect from the run recreation is a should in the event that they hope to remain aggressive in video games.
The rookie class’ main rusher remains to be Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has already rushed for 300 yards. However the high rookie operating again up to now is Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving, a fourth-round choose from Oregon who has rushed for 247 yards. His common of 5.6 yards per carry ranks sixth amongst gamers with 40-plus carries on the yr.
Caleb Williams in uncharted territory forBears
Sunday was an enormous step ahead for Bears rookie Caleb Williams, who grew to become the primary Chicago rookie to throw for 300-plus yards with a minimum of two touchdowns and no interceptions. If it appears stunning no Bears rookie had ever executed that, there are 9 different NFL franchises that also have by no means had such a recreation — the Bucs, Dolphins, Lions, Packers, Raiders, Ravens, Saints, Seahawks and Vikings.
Who had probably the most such video games as a rookie in NFL historical past? The Chargers’ Justin Herbert had 5 his rookie yr, and the Texans’ C.J. Stroud and the Giants’ Daniel Jones had 4 every as rookies.
[Read more:How Bears QB Caleb Williams has ‘learned and caught up to speed in the NFL’]
Uncommon rookie trifecta of quarterback wins
All three of the NFL’s beginning rookie quarterbacks — Williams, Daniels and the Broncos‘ Bo Nix — all gained this previous weekend, a uncommon prevalence given the robust street most rookie quarterbacks face. The file within the Tremendous Bowl period is 4 rookies successful on the identical weekend, which occurred in 2018. Three of these 4 are distinguished starters now within the Payments‘ Josh Allen, the Bucs‘ Baker Mayfield and the Vikings‘ Sam Darnold; the fourth was Arizona’s Josh Rosen.
Williams, Daniels and Nix have already mixed for 10 wins of their first 5 weeks. You may see that reported because the second-most in NFL historical past, nevertheless it’s actually probably the most. The file of 13 was set in 1987, and that window included a participant’s strike which led to alternative gamers and numerous quarterbacks listed as rookies with out that main asterisk.
Jaguars‘Brian Thomas Jr. leads receiver class
An 85-yard landing will definitely assist the common, and Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is coming off his finest recreation as a professional, going for 122 yards within the Jaguars’ shootout win over the Colts. Thomas has 22 catches on the season, and of the 34 NFL gamers with that many receptions, he has one of the best yards per catch at 18.0. With the Giants’ Malik Nabers lacking a recreation as a consequence of harm, Thomas moved into the rookie lead with 397 receiving yards, rising as a transparent WR1 for the Jaguars. Thomas’ three landing catches are one behind the Cardinals‘ Marvin Harrison Jr. for the rookie lead.
One rookie with an excellent greater common is the Payments‘ Keon Coleman, who has averaged 19.4 yards on his 9 catches, together with a 49-yard landing in Sunday’s loss to the Texans.
Lastly, rookie affect for Carolina
The Panthers did not have a first-round choose in April, however having the worst file within the NFL final season ought to open a door to rookie affect, and Carolina did not have a lot within the first month of the season. Receiver Xavier Legette, their high choose, has 13 catches for 151 yards and one landing, operating again Jonathon Brooks hasn’t performed but as he recovers from harm, and tight finish Ja’Tavion Sanders has simply 41 yards on eight catches.
However Sunday introduced a formidable first begin for linebacker Trevin Wallace, a third-round choose from Kentucky. With starters Shaq Thompson and Josey Jewell out with harm, Wallace had 15 tackles in Carolina’s loss to the Bears. That is probably the most by any rookie in a recreation this season — and considerably greater than the three tackles he’d totaled earlier than Sunday.
One significantly promising sequence for Wallace got here within the second quarter, when it was nonetheless a one-score recreation and the Bears had been driving. Wallace made a run cease on third-and-2, after which did the identical on fourth-and-1, stopping Roschon Johnson for a turnover on downs. Carolina’s offense fumbled the ball again three performs later, however Wallace is setting himself as much as play a distinguished position, even when the starters are wholesome once more at linebacker.
Unhealthy maintain, good season forBengals‘Ryan Rehkow
Bengals rookie Ryan Rehkow punter made headlines for the fallacious causes Sunday, with a botched maintain on a missed discipline purpose in extra time, resulting in a loss to the Ravens. However make no mistake, the undrafted rookie from BYU has had a formidable begin to his rookie season, main all NFL punters by a large margin with a 55.6-yard common and a 49.2-yard web common. Every is greater than three yards higher than the closest competitors.
Rehkow was initially signed by the Chiefs however lower in June, and he gained the Bengals’ job in coaching camp. His averages are robust, however on Sunday, he additionally had 4 of 5 punts downed contained in the Baltimore 20-yard line, together with one on the 2.
Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent a decade masking theBuccaneers for theTampa Bay Occasions and The Athletic. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter at@gregauman.
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