With a lot protection of this yr’s promising class of rookie quarterbacks, it is easy to miss the historic side of this previous weekend. Five rookie starters — Chicago’s Caleb Williams, Washington’s Jayden Daniels, New England’s Drake Maye, Denver’s Bo Nix and New Orleans’ Spencer Rattler — mixed for 12 landing passes.
That’s lots thrown within the first 5 weeks of this season mixed, and it is also essentially the most landing passes ever thrown by rookie quarterbacks in an NFL weekend. The previous report was 11, set in Week 16 of 2019, when Daniel Jones had 5 for the Giants, Dwayne Haskins two for Washington and 4 others — Arizona’s Kyler Murray, Detroit’s David Blough, Denver’s Drew Lock and Gardner Minshew of Jacksonville – they added one every.
Last weekend, Williams threw 4, Maye three, Daniels and Nix every threw two and Rattler had one. It’s solely the second time 4 rookies have thrown a number of landing passes in the identical weekend. The different time got here in 2011, when Carolina’s Cam Newton, Jacksonville’s Blaine Gabbert, Minnesota’s Christian Ponder and Houston’s TJ Yates achieved the feat.
The particular person success of this yr’s rookie QBs is amplified by their group’s success. Daniels’ Commanders are 4-2 and a shock chief atop the NFC East, and Williams’ Bears are on the similar 4-2 mark with the identical shock. Nix’s Broncos are 3-3 and the remainder of the category continues to be searching for constant wins.
Will this be a historic class of rookie quarterbacks? They’re on tempo for 68 landing passes, which might be one fewer than final yr’s rookies, led by Houston’s C.J. Stroud (23 landing passes). The report for a category of rookie quarterbacks is 101 touchdowns, set in 2012 by a bunch led by Seattle’s Russell Wilson, Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck and Washington’s Robert Griffin III. And success as rookies does not imply they will grow to be legends: The 2019 class had 90 touchdowns as rookies, with Jones and Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence doubtlessly as the one NFL starters remaining from that group by Sunday.
It was as soon as a generational class of quarterbacks that may not present up as rookies in any respect. The 2004 draft produced three of the 11 greatest profession quarterbacks ever: Eli Manning of the Giants, Philip Rivers of the Chargers and Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers, however that rookie class had solely 36 whole touchdowns. Manning had six as a rookie, Rivers only one.
Chargers rookies step up in opposition to Broncos
Which NFL group had essentially the most offensive/defensive snaps by rookies in Week 6? It was the Chargers, who hit 283 from six rookies of their win over the Broncos. First-round sort out Joe Alt is a mainstay, second-round receiver Ladd McConkey is within the high six in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, and third-round linebacker Junior Colson (who adopted Jim Harbaugh from Michigan) additionally has eight tackles in three video games.
Sunday’s shock influence got here from three late-round picks. In the fifth spherical, Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart each began and performed 105 of 110 defensive snaps, and sixth-round working again Kimani Vidal, making his NFL debut, caught a 38-yard landing move from Justin Herbert.
Fourth-round defensemen shine as damage replacements
Last week, it was Tyrone Tracy Jr. of the Giants and Jaylen Wright of the Dolphins who changed accidents and helped their groups to victory. In the sixth week, there have been three extra such rookie stars.
— Buffalo’s Ray Davis, a fourth-round decide from Kentucky, stepped in Monday for the injured James Cook, rushed 20 occasions for 97 yards and caught three passes for 55 yards in a detailed win over the Jets. Davis had six carries for 48 yards on the opening drive and added a 42-yard catch to arrange one other landing.
– San Francisco’s Isaac Guerendo, a fourth-round decide from Louisville, shined with Christian McCaffrey nonetheless on the sidelines and crammed in for Jordan Mason on and off throughout Thursday’s win over Seattle. Guerendo went on a 76-yard run — the second-longest run within the NFL this season — within the closing two minutes after the Seahawks rallied to inside 5 factors. He completed with 99 yards on 10 carries, lacking the century mark when he misplaced a yard on his closing carry of the night time.
– Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving, a fourth-round pick of Oregon, began his first NFL sport with Rachaad White sidelined and was a part of the Bucs’ 277-yard day, dashing 14 occasions for 81 yards and a landing in a 51-27 rout of the Saints. Irving additionally handed Washington’s Daniels to take the NFL rookie dashing lead with 328 yards.
Cooper DeJean lastly manages to make an influence
Eagles second-round nook Cooper DeJean recorded simply eight defensive snaps earlier than beginning Sunday, taking up as Philadelphia’s nook. He performed effectively in opposition to the Browns, making six tackles and even sharing a sack of Deshaun Watson. DeJean additionally made an influence on particular groups, dealing with punt returns and getting 51 yards on his 4 returns.
Tykee Smith key to the Bucs protection in opposition to the Saints
Only two rookies have each an interception and a compelled fumble this season, and third-round nickel Tykee Smith of the Bucs had each on Sunday in Tampa Bay’s win over the Saints. His compelled fumble was picked up by security Antoine Winfield for a landing, and his interception was a part of a dominant fourth quarter because the Bucs pulled away. Smith picked Rattler for the second straight yr after getting an interception final yr when he was at Georgia and Rattler was at South Carolina.
The different rookie with an interception and a compelled fumble this season is Packers security Evan Williams, a fourth-rounder from Oregon.
NFC North: First-year kickers division
The total NFC North is off to a dominant begin, all 4-2 or higher, however the unsung frequent thread within the division: first-year kickers.
Minnesota rookie kicker Will Reichard, a sixth-round pick of Alabama, is 25 of 25 this yr, hitting all 9 area objectives and 16 additional factors. Green Bay’s Brayden Narveson, undrafted out of NC State, already has 12 area objectives, and Detroit has a first-year kicker in Jake Bates, who’s 25 of 26 to open his NFL profession. The NFC North has three first-year kickers, whereas the remainder of the NFL has a complete of two.
Greg Auman is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He beforehand spent a decade overlaying the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Times and the Athletic. You can observe him on Twitter at @gregauman.
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