NFL Rookie Quarterback Impressions: Week 9
While it was a light week for rookie quarterbacks this week due to Tyrod Taylor returning to take Davis Mills spot, the three rookie signal-callers who did play combined for a 2-1 record and were a made field goal away from an undefeated week.
Let’s take a look at how each quarterback played in week nine.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, JAX
Despite the win, it wasn’t exactly an offensive battle for the ages when the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Buffalo Bills.
In the 9-6 Jaguars win, Lawrence only threw for 118 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions.
The Jaguars were short-handed in the win as top running back James Robinson was out leaving Carlos Hyde as the main man taking handoffs from Lawrence.
Lawrence was the beneficiary of a strong defensive play as his opponent Josh Allen threw two interceptions of his own and was the teams leading rusher.
There was an injury scare during this game as Lawrence missed a short period of the game due to an ankle injury and backup C.J Beathard threw two passes before the top draft pick returned to the action.
That ankle injury could be a storyline leading into the Jaguars’ next matchup against the Indianapolis Colts but Lawrence should be good to go.
Justin Fields, QB, CHI
Following a decent performance in the Chicago Bears’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers last week, the rookie quarterback followed that up by throwing for his career-high in passing yards in a close loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.
Fields threw for 291 passing yards against a tough Steelers defense while also throwing for a touchdown and interception. He also managed to pick up 45 yards on the ground.
The young signal-caller nearly led a game-winning drive as with 26 seconds left in the game, Fields was able to bring the Bears offense to the Steelers 47-yard line where a 65-yard field goal attempt from Cairo Santos just missed.
Now with a 3-6 record, the Bears will face three teams with six wins or more in three of the next four weeks starting with the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Mac Jones, QB, NE
How about three straight good weeks for Mac Jones as he now has the New England Patriots holding a 5-4 record after a blowout win against the Carolina Panthers.
Jones didn’t light things up on the stat sheet as he posted just 139 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also completed 66% of his passes in the win.
While Jones was heavily assisted by a dominant Patriots defense which recorded three interceptions off of quarterback Sam Darnold, the former Alabama gunslinger has arguably looked like the best rookie quarterback through the first nine weeks of the season.
The Patriots road gets a little tougher next week as they will host a Cleveland Browns team coming off a big win as well.
Logan Bourandas is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email lxb5412@psu.edu.
