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Rookies

All articles tagged with #rookies

nfl14 hours ago•11 min saved

Raiders rookies surge in late-camp reps as preseason looms

Day 20 of Raiders training camp featured rookies stacking late-camp reps as they push toward roster spots: Mike Washington Jr. earned first-team backfield reps and delivered in the red zone; QB competition between Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza continued, with Cousins connecting on a 55-yard TD to Tre Tucker and a red-zone strike to Michael Mayer, while Mendoza showed growth and confidence; rookie Trey Zuhn III flashed positional versatility along the offensive line; on defense, Maxx Crosby, Tristin McCollum, and UDFA Cian Slone stood out in pressure drills and Treydan Stukes earned more first-team reps as Rob Leonard praised his speed and instincts, signaling a possible starting role if the trend continues ahead of the preseason.

via Raiders.com|

#defense #nfl #preseason

sports2 days ago•4 min saved

Bears flash rookies, falter on defense in preseason loss to Bengals

Chicago fell 27-9 to Cincinnati in a rough preseason showing, with the starters opening on a positive note but the reserves collapsing on both sides. Sixth‑round DT Jordan van den Berg impressed along the interior, Roschon Johnson led the backfield, and Sam Roush offered depth at tight end, while Dontae Manning and the Bears’ secondary were repeatedly exposed by Bengals backups. Cairo Santos accounted for all scoring with three field goals, Tory Taylor pinned several punts well, and Braxton Jones had a tough night at left tackle.

via Bears Wire|

#bears #nfl #preseason

sports2 days ago•5 min saved

Chiefs' Rookie-Driven Stop Unit Shines in Close Preseason Loss to Buccaneers

The Kansas City Chiefs fell 16-15 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a preseason game, but their rookies on defense showed speed and playmaking on third downs (Mansoor Delane and R Mason Thomas) as Emmett Johnson scored KC’s lone TD and Jalen Royals led the receiving with six catches for 51 yards; meanwhile the offense had some protection lapses with Benson, and Patrick Mahomes expressed confidence about a Week 1 return.

via Arrowhead Pride|

#chiefs #defense #jalen-royals

sports3 days ago•3 min saved

Ravens' rookies and poised QB spark 13-3 preseason win over Vikings

Baltimore beat Minnesota 13-3 in its second preseason game as a wave of rookies boosted stock: undrafted OLB Ethan Burke shined with a sack, two PBUs, a forced fumble, and strong coverage; undrafted QB Joe Fagnano continued to look poised under pressure; Mike Green, Aeneas Peebles, and rookie TE Josh Cuevas contributed on defense and offense, with Cuevas totaling 46 receiving yards on three catches. Punter Ryan Eckley pinned Vikings with six punts for 332 yards, while OL Vega Ioane and LB Adisa Isaac had rough moments that temper early optimism.

via Baltimore Beatdown|

#defense #preseason #quarterbacks

sports3 days ago•7 min saved

Jaguars lean on depth as rookies shine in preseason loss to Panthers

Jacksonville played mostly backups in Friday's preseason loss to Carolina, with no starting blockers or receivers. Rookie WRs CJ Williams and Josh Cameron stood out, catching multiple targets from the backup QB duo and showing they can contribute. Veteran RB Ameer Abdullah boosted his stock with a 23-yard run and an 18-yard catch-and-run, while the defense continued to deploy aggressive dime packages under coordinator Anthony Campanile. With an injury-plagued, makeshift OL and starters largely resting, the Week 1 lineup will be shaped in next week's joint practices with the Buccaneers rather than Friday's game.

via Sports Illustrated|

#carolina-panthers #jaguars #liam-coen

sports3 days ago•6 min saved

Depth on Display: Chiefs Seek Answers in Week 2 Preseason vs Buccaneers

In Week 2 of the NFL preseason, the Chiefs visit the Buccaneers after a 20-12 loss to the Rams, with several depth-chart questions on the line: rookie Cyrus Allen targets could rise as he pushes for more looks; fifth-round running back Emmett Johnson is pushing to be the backup behind Kenneth Walker; tight end depth behind Travis Kelce—Noah Gray, Jake Briningstool, Jared Wiley and Tre Watson—will be watched for continued development; the offensive line is shorthanded due to Josh Simmons’ back injury, testing the depth beyond the starters; and rookie corner Mansoor Delane is poised for a possible pro debut as he returns to practice fully. The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. local time in Tampa and airs on KSHB 41.

via Arrowhead Pride|

#buccaneers #chiefs #depth-chart

sports4 days ago•9 min saved

Chiefs Camp Signals a Power Shift: Mahomes Back, Walker III Set to Carry the Load

Chiefs training camp offered a bullish outlook: Patrick Mahomes looks fully back eight months after knee surgery and is ready to start, Kenneth Walker III appears poised to be the workhorse with strong receiving and red-zone upside, signaling a more run-heavy, under-center offense in 2026; interior offensive-line depth is a concern due to injuries, prompting possible roster upgrades; rookies are delivering, notably Mansoor Delane, Peter Woods, Cyrus Allen, Emmett Johnson and Benson, while the defense is being reshaped with better depth and a stronger front.

via The New York Times|

#kansas-city-chiefs #kenneth-walker-iii #patrick-mahomes

sports4 days ago•5 min saved

49ers' Rookies Stribling and Black Spark in SoFi Win

In a 41-17 preseason win over the Chargers at SoFi Stadium, San Francisco rookies DeZhaun Stribling and Kaelon Black impressed. Stribling caught 4 of 5 targets for 46 yards, including a near-TD catch that coach Kyle Shanahan said was a catch he must make, and he has 11 catches for 109 yards over two preseason games. Black, making his debut after an adductor strain, rushed eight times for 33 yards with his longest run of 9 yards; Shanahan said he liked his physical running and would have liked to keep him in longer, health permitting. The duo is drawing early praise and quieting doubters about the 49ers' draft choices.

via NBC Sports Bay Area & California|

#49ers #dezhaun-stribling #kaelon-black

sports5 days ago•17 min saved

Rookie Roundup: Week 1 Grades for 2026 First-Round NFL Draft Picks

The piece grades every 2026 first-round NFL Draft pick based on Week 1 of the preseason, noting that many players had limited snaps or were sidelined by injuries. Highlights include Ty Simpson (Rams) with an A+ on a 21-of-25, 190-yard, two-TD outing; Jeremiyah Love (Cardinals) an A with 11 carries for 58 yards plus three catches; Akheem Mesidor (Chargers) an A in limited action; Kadyn Proctor (Dolphins) a solid C+ in pass protection; Caleb Downs (Cowboys) a B in limited action; and several others with grades ranging from A to D or marked N/A due to injuries or not playing. The roundup provides an early read on how the 2026 rookie class is adjusting to pro football, with some players flashing immediate impact and others still waiting for their turn.

via FanSided|

#first-round-picks #grading #nfl

sports5 days ago•3 min saved

49ers push for depth in Week 2 preseason clash with Chargers

The 49ers host the Chargers in their second preseason game, with possible starter time for Brock Purdy before backups rotate in. Key young players to watch include RB Kaelon Black (in the spotlight with Christian McCaffrey out and Jordan James sidelined), WR De’Zhaun Stribling, OL Carver Willis, DL Gracen Halton, S Ji’Ayir Brown, and CB Renardo Green as San Francisco evaluates depth across the lineup and positions such as left guard, defensive tackle, safety, and cornerback.

via Niners Nation|

#49ers #chargers #nfl

sports6 days ago•1 min saved

Jets rookies show promise and potholes as camp tightens

With two preseason games remaining, the Jets assess their rookie class, weighing the best signs against the worst as they decide who can contribute this season and who needs development to build for the future, with Cade Klubnik highlighted in the coverage.

via New York Post|

#cade-klubnik #jets #nfl

sports6 days ago•18 min saved

Rookie First-Rounders Shine and Shuffle in 2026 NFL Preseason Week 1

Week 1 of the 2026 preseason showcased a mix of standout and limited debuts among first-rounders: Ty Simpson excelled with 190 yards and two TDs on 25 attempts (78.1 PFF), Arvell Reese posted the top first-round grade (88.2) on 12 snaps, and several offensive linemen shuffled positions (Mauigoa at right guard, Proctor at left guard, Rutledge at center). Akheem Mesidor delivered an 80.9 grade on nine snaps, Rueben Bain Jr. was held out, and seven first-rounders did not play; Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon were sidelined by injuries. The week offered a snapshot of how the 2026 rookie class may be deployed, with a mix of standout performances and reps still being earned.

via PFF|

#grades #nfl #pff

sports6 days ago•9 min saved

Ramsey leads Week 1 preseason rookie grades

Kamari Ramsey (Texans) topped Week 1 preseason rookie grades with a 94.8 PFF score, including an interception and a pass breakup in 14 coverage snaps. Matthew Hibner (Ravens) led the offense at 92.6, catching five passes for 61 yards on 12 routes. Carson Beck (Cardinals) led quarterbacks with a 91.7 grade after a strong Hall of Fame Game showing. The list also highlights undrafted standouts Jacob Roberts and Jacob Thomas for Minnesota, Ayden Garnes (Bucs), and other notable rookies across positions as the league begins Week 1-style evaluation, with a 15-snap minimum for qualification and weekly updates planned.

via pff.com|

#grading #nfl #pff

sports6 days ago•7 min saved

Dolphins Practice 13: Johnson and Coleman Jr. Spark Rookie Spotlight

At Dolphins training camp Practice 13, rookie corner Chris Johnson locked down receivers and shined in run support, while rookie WR Kevin Coleman Jr. caught two TD passes (from Malik Willis and Cam Miller). Malik Washington continued to be Willis’ favored target, and Chop Robinson impressed in several reps. No interceptions occurred, though a Willis–Achane exchange produced a turnover. Several veterans were sidelined with injuries ahead of the Giants joint practice.

via Sports Illustrated|

#chris-johnson #kevin-coleman-jr #miami-dolphins

sports7 days ago•2 min saved

Patriots camp notes: Chism expands role as Hutchins and Brown push for roster spots

Patriots used a slow walkthrough ahead of two joint practices with the Eagles, spotlighting Efton Chism III as a growing multi‑role threat on offense and special teams, while seventh‑round Hutchins and veteran Mike Brown continue to earn meaningful reps—Hutchins on defense and Brown as the personal punt protector—highlighting a focus on roles and mental prep rather than competition.

via Pats Pulpit|

#eagles #nfl #patriots