Tag: 1000 yards

Can Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon accomplish rare rushing feat in 2022?

No pair of RB teammates have each rushed for 1,000 yards in the same season since 2009. Can Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon be the first in over a decade?

It might be a long shot, but Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon of the Green Bay Packers could have a legitimate chance to accomplish a rare feat of rushing during the 2022 season.

In the history of the NFL, only five pairs of running back teammates have ever both rushed for over 1,000 yards in a single season. The last one? DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart of the Carolina Panthers in 2009, so it’s been well over a decade since a pair of running-back teammates both hit the 1,000-yard milestone in the same season.

Can Jones and Dillon end the drought?

It would take an incredible season from both, but the Packers are evolving on offense after losing Davante Adams, and Jones and Dillon are going to get the ball a ton during the 2022 season. If both stay healthy and the run-blocking of the offensive line improves even incrementally, they’ll have a chance.

In 2021, Jones and Dillon both went over 1,000 total yards but came up short of 1,000 rushing yards. Jones rushed 171 times for 799 yards in 15 games; Dillon rushed 187 times for 803 yards in 17 games.

Back in 2009, Stewart rushed 221 times for 1,133 yards in 16 games and Williams rushed 216 times for 1,117 yards in 13 games. Both Stewart and Williams averaged over 5.0 yards per carry. And both were over 70.0 yards per game.

The extra game gives the Packers’ duo an advantage.

Over a 17-game schedule, both Jones and Dillon would both need to average 58.8 rushing yards per game for each player to get to 1,000 rushing yards.

Of course, the Packers are still led by Aaron Rodgers, the back-to-back NFL MVP, and throwing the football is still going to be a major part of what Matt LaFleur’s team tries to accomplish. Instead of a significant uptick in carries for Jones and Dillon, the pair may catch more passes in an attempt to fill the void left by Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

If the carries didn’t increase for either player in 2022, the efficiency would need to: Jones would have to average 5.8 yards per carry, while Dillon would have to average 5.3 yards. This is a long way of saying both players almost certainly need more carries to get to 1,000 rushing yards.

It’s all a possibility worth monitoring for one of the NFL’s best running back duos in 2022, especially if Jones and Dillon get off to a hot start or catch fire at some point during the regular season.

Over a decade ago, Williams and Stewart were a slash-and-smash duo for the run-heavy Panthers. In 2022, Jones and Dillon complement each other in similar ways and will play featured roles for the Packers.

“We’re fortunate, we’ve got two No. 1 backs,” LaFleur said earlier this year. “We’re super excited about those guys.”

Can an evolving Packers offense and the extraordinary talents of Jones and Dillon create the first 1,000-yard rushing duo since 2009?

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Kyle Pitts becomes second rookie tight end with 1,000 yards in NFL history

Pitts is 58 yards shy of the record set by Mike Ditka in 1961 heading into the final game of the regular season.

Kyle Pitts had a lot to live up to heading into his NFL career. The former Gator was regarded as one of the best tight end prospects in history heading into the 2021 NFL draft, and he was taken by Atlanta with the fourth pick, making him the highest-drafted tight end in the common era of the draft.

Even with the expectations sky-high, Pitts has impressed as a rookie. He’s been the featured player in Atlanta’s passing game, especially with Calvin Ridley taking an extended leave of absence this season. And now, he’s reached an impressive milestone.

With his two catches for 69 yards against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Pitts reached 1,018 yards on the season, becoming the first rookie tight end to break the 1,000-yard mark since Mike Ditka in 1961. Pitts is now 58 yards shy of Ditka’s rookie record, a mark he could reach in the season finale against the New Orleans Saints.

Of course, Ditka’s mark is made even more impressive by the fact that he accomplished it in 14 games, but that doesn’t detract from Pitts’ stellar play this season. He passed Tony Gonzalez for the most single-season receiving yards for a tight end in franchise history earlier this season, and he’s the first rookie tight end to make the Pro Bowl since Jeremy Shockey in 2002.

Pitts isn’t done yet, and he will try to add another accolade to his resume against the Saints on Sunday.

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Bijan Robinson fastest Texas running back to 1,000 yards since Jamaal Charles

Despite only been on campus for 13 games, Bijan Robinson has already etched his name in the Texas record book a couple of times.

When Bijan Robinson stepped foot on campus, the feeling was he would be the next great running back to come out of Austin. His recruiting rating alone was good enough to catch some eyes. Once he stepped on the field, it was known how great he would truly be.

Despite only been on campus for 13 games, Robinson has already etched his name in the Texas record book a couple of times. The sophomore was successful when Tom Herman allowed him to be and he is reaping the benefits of Steve Sarkisian’s scheme thus far.

Saturday against Rice, Robinson rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries. His career total is now up to 1,002 yards on 138 attempts and is the 55th Longhorn to ever accomplish the feat.

To add on, only Jamaal Charles has reached the career 1,000 rushing yard mark as quickly as Robinson. Both did it on carry No. 138 in the nonconference portion of their sophomore season.

Charles’ career ended after three seasons, with 3,328 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns. Robinson will have the opportunity to surpass those numbers if he continues to perform the way he has.

The difference between the two may be in the passing game. With the nature of Sarkisian’s play-calling, Robinson is going to get a few more receptions out of the backfield than Charles did under Mack Brown. The current Texas running back has already matched receiving touchdowns with three and is one pace to finish with more yards as well.

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Seahawks DK Metcalf celebrates touchdown by taking over CBS camera

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf drew a flag Week 14 when he took over the CBS camera operation for his touchdown celebration.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver, DK Metcalf, might want to stick to his day job as a pass-catcher.

On Sunday, Metcalf gave it a try as a camera operator after connecting with his quarterback Russell Wilson for a score against the New York Jets in the first half of the Week 14 matchup.

Wilson hit Metcalf for five yards and the Seahawks touchdown to top off the eight-play, 70-yard scoring drive.

After the TD, Metcalf jumped into the stands and took over the filming of a CBS camera – something the TV broadcast crew didn’t seem to mind a bit.

While the score stuck, Metcalf was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Here’s a look:

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