Tag: NFL Rookie of the Week

Could Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. finally earn ROTW honors?

Could Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. finally earn ROTW honors?

The third time was not the charm, but perhaps the fourth time will be.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week again on Tuesday, marking the fourth time he has been considered for the award seven weeks into his pro career.

Thomas was previously put up for the award in Week 1, Week 4 and Week 5 for his respective performances against Miami, Houston and Indianapolis. He combined for 15 receptions, 255 yards and three touchdowns.

Against New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday, Thomas hauled in all five of his targets for 89 yards, one touchdown and one two-point conversion.

Through seven games, Jacksonville’s No. 23 overall selection in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft has logged 30 catches for 513 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 17.1 yards per grab. He has added three rushing attempts for 15 yards.

New England quarterback Drake Maye, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. were nominated alongside Thomas for the honor in Week 7.

Fans can vote for NFL Rookie of the Week here.

Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week again

Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. up for NFL Rookie of the Week

Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is up for the NFL’s Rookie of the Week award for the second time in his young pro career, four games in.

Thomas’ showing in Jacksonville’s Week 4 loss to Houston — six receptions for 86 yards and one touchdown, paired with one rush for 13 yards — led to his nomination alongside quarterbacks, Washington’s Jayden Daniels and Chicago’s Caleb Williams, and fellow receivers, New York’s Malik Nabers, Kansas City’s Xavier Worthy and Carolina’s Xavier Legette.

The honor went to Daniels in Week 1, when Thomas was first under consideration after catching four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut against Miami.

Through four games, Jacksonville’s first-round, No. 23 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft has logged 17 receptions for 275 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 16.2 yards per grab.

“Each week, we challenge him as a staff, we challenge him more and more on his plate. I think we’re seeing, you’re seeing, obviously, the type of receiver that he is and why we drafted him,” Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said about Thomas on Monday.

“He’s, gosh, he’s such a competitor. I love that about him – the way he competes out there and he plays hard, he plays fast, he’ll go in there and block a safety if he has to. Nice job on the around yesterday. So, he’s very capable and we’re going to continue to keep throwing the ball this way.”

Fans can vote for NFL Rookie of the Week here.

Jaguars’ Brian Thomas Jr. up for Rookie of the Week after strong debut

Jaguars’ Brian Thomas Jr. up for Rookie of the Week after strong debut

Jacksonville’s first-round 2024 NFL draft pick, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is up for the NFL’s Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week award following his pro debut against Miami on Sunday, the league announced.

Thomas caught all four of his targets for 47 yards and the first touchdown of his NFL career in Week 1, a 14-yard, toe-tapping reception in the back of the end zone that gave the Jaguars a two-possession lead over the Dolphins in the second quarter.

Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson commended Thomas for his showing after the game, which ended in a 20-17 loss for the Jaguars, suggesting Thomas was unbothered by the size of the stage that is performing in the NFL.

“I thought he did some good things,” Pederson said about Thomas’s performance after the loss. “[The] game is not too big for him, and great touchdown catch obviously there in the first half and did some good things. Played tough and physical in the run game, as well.”

Jacksonville selected Thomas No. 23 overall in April’s draft, coveting the big-bodied speedster following his breakout junior season with LSU in 2023 and stunning 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in March.

The 6-foot-3, 209-pound Thomas caught 68 passes for 1,177 yards and an FBS-leading 17 touchdowns in his final year of college football.

Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels, New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, Kansas City wide receiver Xavier Worthy, Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers and Tennessee return specialist/wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson were nominated for Rookie of the Week alongside Thomas.

Fans can vote for one of these six players on www.nfl.com/rookies.

Colts’ Josh Downs up for Rookie of the Week

Josh Downs is up for Rookie of the Week!

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has been nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week following his stellar outing against the Cleveland Browns in Week 7 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The second-round pick has enjoyed a strong start to the season, and he continued that trend at home against the Browns. Despite facing a tough defense, Downs posted five receptions for 125 yards and one touchdown.

His touchdown came on a heads-up play in which he got behind the defense on a free play thanks to Myles Garrett jumping offsides. He got behind the zone and raced 59 yards to the end zone to conclude the offense’s first drive.

Also nominated this week includes Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs and New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks.

Fans can vote for the Colts rookie on NFL.com through Thursday at noon ET.

Jedrick Wills wins NFL Rookie of the Week for Week 10

It’s a rare win for an offensive lineman, the first since 2013

Congratulations are in order for Cleveland Browns left tackle Jedrick Wills. The big lineman won the NFL Rookie of the Week award for Week 10.

Wills is the first Browns rookie to capture the honor since 2018, when three different Browns — Nick Chubb, Baker Mayfield and Denzel Ward — all captured the weekly award that year. Wills is also a rare winner as an offensive lineman. Only three other linemen have earned the Rookie of the Week since voting began in 2002 and none have won since 2013.

Wills pitched a shutout in pass protection against the Houston Texans in Week 10, including some matchups with J.J. Watt. He also made several key blocks to help spring both Chubb and Kareem Hunt for over 100 yards rushing in the game, the first time Browns teammates have topped the century mark in the same game since 1966.

[lawrence-related id=19351]

Former Ohio State defensive lineman Dremont Jones up for NFL Rookie of the Week

Former Ohio State defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones has been nominated for the NFL’s Rookie of the Week.

Former Ohio State and current Denver Bronco defensive lineman Dremont Jones is up for NFL Rookie of the Week after a fantastic performance against the Detroit Lions.

Jones had himself a day with four tackles and two sacks in a 27-17 victory over a reeling Detroit Lions squad. He continues to develop at the defensive end spot and is showing that he was worth the Broncos taking a chance on him in the 3rd round of last year’s NFL Draft.

Jones is up for the award against Daniel Jones of the Giants, Miles Sanders of the Eagles, Hunter Renfrow of the Raiders, and Derick Roberson of the Titans.

If you want to help Jones with the honor, you can vote directly on NFL.com.

Dwayne Haskins has been named the NFL’s Rookie of the Week

Former Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins was recognized as the NFL’s Rookie of the Week for his performance against the Eagles.

It probably took longer than anyone thought, but former Ohio State and current Washington Redskins quarterback Dwayne Haskins has been named the NFL’s Rookie of the

His team lost the game 37-27 to the Philadelphia Eagles, but it wasn’t because of the effort of the former Heisman finalist. Haskins had his best career game in the NFL by far, completing 19 of 28 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns.

One of those touchdowns may have looked vaguely familiar to Ohio State fans as well — as Haskins connected with former Buckeye receiver Terry McLaurin for a 75-yard strike. The fact that the connection came in front of former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer made it even sweeter.

The Redskins are hoping that the No. 15 pick of last year’s NFL Draft will eventually develop to become the face of the franchise as one of the best future quarterbacks in the league. But so far, Haskins has struggled throwing interceptions and grasping the offense in year one.

He threw another pick on Sunday, but a performance like what we saw on Sunday has to be encouraging for the Redskins organization.