With so much coverage of this year’s promising rookie quarterback class, it’s easy to overlook the historic aspect of this past 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 — combined for 12 passes.
That’s the most he’s thrown through the first five weeks of the season combined, and it’s also the most touchdown passes ever thrown by a rookie quarterback in a single NFL weekend. The previous record was 11, set in Week 16 of 2019 when Daniel Jones had five for the Giants, Dwayne Haskins had two for Washington, and four others — Arizona’s Kyler Murray, Detroit’s David Blough, Denver’s Drew Lock and Jacksonville’s Gardner Minshew — added one. . each one.
This past weekend, Williams had four, Maye had three, Daniels and Nix each threw two and Rattler got one. It’s only the second time four rookies have thrown as many passes in the same weekend. Another time came in 2011 when Carolina’s Cam Newton, Jacksonville’s Blaine Gabbert, Minnesota’s Christian Ponder and Houston’s TJ Yates did the feat.
The individual success of this year’s rookie QBs is magnified by their team’s success. Daniels’ Commanders are 4-2 and the surprise leaders at the top of the NFC East, while Williams’ Bears have the same 4-2 mark and are the same shock. Nix’s Broncos are 3-3, and the rest of the class is still searching for consistent wins.
Will this be a historic rookie quarterback class? They are on track for 68 touchdown passes, which would be fewer than last year’s starters, led by Houston’s CJ Stroud (23 TDs). The single rookie class record for quarterbacks is 101 touchdowns, set in 2012 by a group led by Seattle’s Russell Wilson, Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck and Washington’s Robert Griffin III. And success as rookies doesn’t mean they’ll end up as legends: The 2019 class had 90 touchdowns as rookies, and Jones and Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence may be the only NFL starters left on that team Sunday.
It used to be a production phase for quarterbacks that may not show at all as rookies. The 2004 draft produced three of the top 11 quarterbacks ever in passing yards in the Giants’ Eli Manning, the Chargers’ Philip Rivers and the Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger, but that rookie class had only 36 touchdowns. . Manning had six as a rookie, Rivers just one.
Chargers rookies rising vs. Broncos
Which NFL team has the most offensive/defensive snaps by rookies in Week 6? It was the Chargers, who got 283 from six rookies in their win over the Broncos. First-round pick Joe Alt is a starter, second-round receiver Ladd McConkey is top-six in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns, and third-round cornerback Junior Colson (Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh) has eight catches in three games. .
The dramatic impact on Sunday came from three late picks. Fifth-round corners Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart both started and played 105 of 110 defensive snaps, while sixth-round running back Kimani Vidal, making his NFL debut, caught a 38-yard touchdown from Justin Herbert .
Fourth-round backs shine as injury replacements
Last week, it was Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s bullies. and Jaylen Wright of the Dolphins who entered as injured and helped their teams to victory. In Week 6, there were three more rookie stars.
– Buffalo’s Ray Davis, a fourth-round pick out of Kentucky, stepped in for the injured James Cook on Monday, rushed 20 times for 97 yards and caught three passes for 55 yards in the win over the Jets. Davis had six carries for 48 yards in the opening drive and added a 42-yard catch to set up another touchdown.
– San Francisco’s Isaac Guerendo, a fourth-round pick out of Louisville, shined with Christian McCaffrey injured and filled in for Jordan Mason in Thursday’s win over Seattle. Guerendo ripped off a 76-yard touchdown run — the second-longest in the NFL this season — in the final two minutes after the Seahawks rallied from within five points. He finished with 99 yards on 10 carries, missing a century when he lost a yard on his final carry of the night.
– Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving, a fourth-round pick out of Oregon, got his first NFL start with Rachaad White sidelined and was part of a 277-yard day for the Bucs, rushing 14 times for 81 yards and a touchdown in the 51-27 route. of the Saints. Irving also moved ahead of Washington’s Daniels to take the NFL rookie rushing yards with 328 yards.
Cooper DeJean you finally get to make an impact
Eagles second-round cornerback Cooper DeJean recorded just eight snaps before starting Sunday, taking over as Philadelphia’s cornerback. He played well against the Browns, making six tackles and being involved in Deshaun Watson’s sack. DeJean also made an impact on special teams, handling a punt return and gaining 51 yards on his four returns.
Tykee Smith Bucs defense keys vs. Saints
Only two rookies have caught and forced a fumble this season, and Bucs third-round pick Tykee Smith had both on Sunday in Tampa Bay’s win over the Saints. His forced fumble was picked off by safety Antoine Winfield for a touchdown, and his interception was part of the fourth quarter when the Bucs pulled away. Smith picked Rattler for the second year in a row, getting a matchup last year when he was at Georgia and Rattler was at South Carolina.
Another rookie who has caught and forced a fumble this season is Packers safety Evan Williams, a fourth-round pick out of Oregon.
NFC North: Class of first-year kickers
The NFC North has all gotten off to a good start, all at 4-2 or better, but a common thread can be sung in the division: first-year kickers.
Minnesota rookie kicker Will Reichard, a sixth-round pick out of Alabama, is 25 for 25 this year, kicking all nine field goals and 16 extra points. Green Bay’s Brayden Narveson, undrafted out of NC State, already has 12 field goals, and Detroit has a first-year kicker in Jake Bates, 25 of 26 to open his NFL career. The NFC North has three first-year kickers, while the rest of the NFL has two total.
Greg Auman is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He previously spent ten years covering the The Buccaneers Of course Tampa Bay Times and The Athletic. You can follow him on Twitter at @gregauman.
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