NFL Rookie of the Year Watch: Week 2
After an impressive opening week in the NFL by the rookies, Week 2 had a lot to live up to, and it did not disappoint.
On the defensive side, linebacker Devin Lloyd was everywhere for the Jaguar defense against the Colts. He showed up with a defense we haven’t seen from Jacksonville in a while. Lloyd allowed three catches on five targets for 18 yards with a pick and two pass break-ups.
Drake London showed up again in Week 2. He finished with eight catches on 11 targets for 86 yards and his first career score. Furthermore, London was the highest-graded rookie receiver in Week 2. His return to Los Angeles after being a USC Trojan was nothing short of a hit.
New York Jets rookie Garrett Wilson is quickly becoming the Jets’ No. 1 receiver. As the No. 10 pick overall, he helped lead the Jets to a last-minute victory over the Cleveland Browns. Wilson snagged the comeback game-winning score.
Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez from the Detroit Lions is outshining most rookies across the NFL and standing out among most starting linebackers as well. “Rodrigo” racked up four defensive stops against the Washington Commanders this past week.
Damarii Mathis, a cornerback for the Denver Broncos, was abruptly called into the game for the first time ever in Week 2 when starting cornerback Patrick Surtain II went down with an injury. Mathis handled the situation more than ok with four tackles and three catches allowed on six targets.
Washington wide receiver Jahan Dotson caught four of five targets for 59 yards and a touchdown while adding a two-point conversion in Sunday’s loss to the Lions.
The rookies on the New York Jets had an outstanding weekend. Along with Garrett Wilson’s touchdown success, Breece Hall also got his first NFL touchdown this past weekend against the Cleveland Browns. Two rookies scoring the first two touchdowns of the game has given more hope to Jets fans than they have seen in a while.
Reagan Phillips is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email rfp5366@psu.edu.
