NINE ROOKIES WHO IMPRESSED ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT
Atlanta Falcons QB Desmond Ridder and Cincinnati Bengals WR Kendrick Pryor were among the rookies that made the top 7 most impressive performances from Thursday and Friday preseason games.
Here’s a look at the top 9 freshmen that showed off on Saturday and Sunday’s slate of preseason games:
9. JALEN VIRGIL, WR DENVER BRONCOS
Undrafted rookie Jalen Virgil didn’t shy away from putting on a show at Empower Field on Saturday night as the Denver Broncos beat the Dallas Cowboys 17-7. His first big play of the evening was a 42-yard catch on a bomb down the left sideline from fourth-year quarterback Brett Rypien and his second was a 30-yard reception down the right sideline. The former Appalachian State Mountaineer would go on to record 3 catches for a team-leading 83 receiving yards and led the Broncos offense with a PFF grade of 89.7 in his NFL debut.
As well as showcasing good hands, Virgil is a massive deep threat and will likely be used to expose defenses over the top if he makes the roster. His speed was commended by fellow rookie receiver Montrell Washington after the game. “Now, I’m fast,” said Washington. “But Jalen is faaast, fast. A lot of people don’t know. You press [him] you’re liable to get burned immediately. Jalen has world-class speed. I know I’m fast, but Jalen is moving, for real.”
Virgil is also a special teams threat on punt and kick returns, and doesn’t shy away from competition among the Broncos’ talented receiver room. He said after his standout performance on Sunday: “I’ve always been big on taking advantage of every opportunity given. We have a lot of talent in the receiver room. So for me, it’s just going out there every time and trying to make a play any time I get a chance.”
8. GEORGE PICKENS, WR PITTSBURGH STEELERS
‘Pickett to Pickens!’ is a commentary line that Steelers fans will hope to hear for a long time. Second-round draft pick George Pickens has been making headlines in training camp and showed the newly-renamed Acrisure Stadium what he was all about on Saturday night.
The former Georgia Bulldog’s first contribution came inside the first minute of the game as he blocked two defenders for third-year running back Anthony McFarland Jr, who pulled off a nice 24-yard run on a crucial 3rd & 1 to move the chains. Pickens ended the night with 3 receptions on 5 targets for 43 yards and a receiving touchdown. The touchdown was a 26-yard highlight reel catch from Mason Rudolph that put the Pittsburgh Steelers up two touchdowns in the first quarter.
Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky has certainly taken notice of the young rookie. “He’s standing out,” Trubisky said. “He’s making plays and he’s definitely a guy you want to go to. He’s been really impressive up to this point. Anytime the ball is in his area, it’s a big-play opportunity. We have to keep getting reps with him, keep giving him opportunities and he’s going to continue to do special things.”
7. RAHEEM BLACKSHEAR, RB BUFFALO BILLS
Probably the best receiver out of the backfield this weekend, Bills’ 5’9” 190 lbs. running back Raheem Blackshear was a weapon in the passing game for the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. The former high school wide receiver put up an incredible 60 yards from 4 receptions, averaging 15 yards per catch to go along with 2 rushing touchdowns as the Buffalo Bills beat the Indianapolis Colts 27-24 to get into the win column.
An undrafted free agent, the former Virginia Tech Hokie put up 1,009 total scrimmage yards in 13 games last year (760 rushing & 249 receiving), and scored 6 rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown. Blackshear told Pro Football Network back in April that he looks at himself like a Deebo Samuel and is craving for an opportunity to be utilized however his NFL employer may deem fit. Blackshear can also be used on kick and punt returns and was spotted by fans during training camp remaining on the field after practice doing his return drills.
6. TY CHANDLER, RB MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Ty Chandler piqued everybody’s interest when he picked up 14 yards on just his first carry on Sunday night. The former North Carolina Tar Heel ended the game with 50 rushing yards on 5 rush attempts. However his night wouldn’t be over before he put his best play of the night on tape, a 56-yard kick return that flipped the field for the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings would end up taking advantage of the short field and score six via Albert Wilson on a pass from second-year QB Kellen Mond.
Chandler will battle Kene Nwangwu for the third running back spot on the roster behind Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison. The fifth-rounder also had a solid season last year at North Carolina in which he posted 182 carries for 1,092 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.
5. BOYE MAFE, OLB SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Seahawks rookie Boye Mafe was nothing but money on Saturday night despite Seattle’s 32-25 loss in the Steel City. The second-round pick made his contribution with two big plays right away. First, storming in on Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Rudolph, hitting his arm and forcing a fumble, and then running down Steelers returner Steven Sims on a 38-yard punt return to save a touchdown.
Showing incredible speed off the line and in the open field, Mafe ended the day with an impressive 2 sacks – the second a huge clutch sack on 4th & 1 inside the last two minutes of the game – and 1 tackle for loss to go with one quarterback hit. An explosive pass rusher with good bend and a legit toolbox, Mafe could very well be the answer for the Seattle Seahawks’ pass-rush problems this year.
4. SAM HOWELL, QB WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Sam Howell won’t simply be handed the starting job in Washington but he did a lot to get into that conversation on Saturday afternoon. Once considered a top 10 pick in the draft, the fifth-round draft pick sits behind new Commanders acquisition Carson Wentz and last year’s starter Taylor Heinicke on the depth chart but you have a feeling that’s not going to weigh heavily on him.
In one of the best performances by a rookie this weekend, the former North Carolina Tar Heel was the lone bright spot for the Commanders on Saturday when they played host to the Carolina Panthers and by the end of the game, had fans questioning whether he could be the answer to the team’s QB problems.
The Commanders were getting blown away 20-6 at FedEx Field when Howell took over from Heinicke and guided Washington into the lead in the fourth quarter before the Panthers ultimately won with a 45-yard field goal in the last minute. Howell finished his first preseason game with an impressive 145 passing yards, more than both Wentz and Heinicke combined, and completed 9 of 16 passes including one 2-point conversion, averaging 16.1 yards per pass, 9.1 yards per attempt, and no interceptions.
The 2019 ACC Rookie of the Year also mixed in two rushing touchdowns and 19 yards on the ground, showing off his dual-threat ability. Howell’s rushing ability isn’t news for the Tar Heels faithful as he put up incredible rushing numbers last year but it’s probably the most underrated aspect of his game. Howell had a massive 183 rushing attempts for 828 rushing yards in North Carolina in 2021 and ran the ball in for 11 rushing scores. He can definitely be used to create plays with his feet if the Washington Commanders decide to mix him into games this year.
The 21-year old is big on taking his chances and said after the game: “Every opportunity I get, I’m just trying to take advantage of it and do my best for this organization. That’s what they drafted me here to do and I’m just going to try and get better and give this organization all I got.”
3. KENNY PICKETT, QB PITTSBURGH STEELERS
The Pittsburgh Steelers definitely thought highly of former Pitt Panther quarterback Kenny Pickett when they drafted him 20th overall in the first-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Pickett had a ball on Saturday night, making his NFL debut a memorable one.
The 2021 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner had the crowd chanting his name before he even stepped onto the field this weekend. The 24-year-old threw for 95 yards, completing 13 of 15 passes (86.7% cmp pct) and 2 TDs, the second touchdown a game-winning score on a nice 44-yard drive, and a 2-point conversion. Pickett ended the night with an impressive passer rating of 132.6 according to Pro Football Focus, the highest passer rating by a quarterback in preseason week 1 and the highest passer rating by a rookie QB in 30 years.
2. SKYLAR THOMPSON, QB MIAMI DOLPHINS
Skylar Thompson is not Kenny Pickett but he’s further up the list than the Steelers QB because his performance was a pleasant shock to everybody watching the game on Saturday. With Tua rested and backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater out with back tightness, the Missouri-born quarterback was asked to play the entire game. The seventh-round draft pick out of K-State didn’t disappoint and guided the Miami Dolphins to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-24 at Raymond James Stadium.
Thompson’s ‘casual’ performance; completing 20 out of 28 passes for 218 yards, 1 touchdown, and zero interceptions definitely got Dolphins fans excited. Tagovailoa and Bridgewater are currently listed as QB1 and QB2 but that could all change if Skylar Thompson continues to play like he did Saturday night. The former Kansas State Wildcat added 25 yards on the ground and led the Dolphins to 20 unanswered points between the second and third quarters.
Dolphins’ tight end Mike Gesicki was impressed by the 25-year-old and said: “I thought he played well, I thought he played great. Played tough, made plays, and was able to handle some adversity in terms of kind of getting pressured here and there, king of using his feet, and all that kind of stuff. I thought he did a great job, so I’m happy for him. He had a great opportunity, and he made the most of it.”
1. LANCE MCCUTCHEON, WR LOS ANGELES RAMS
Lance McCutcheon didn’t wait for another opportunity as an undrafted free agent when the LA Rams, the first team to call him, rang his phone this offseason. A phenom wide receiver at 6’3” 202 lbs., McCutcheon proved on Saturday night why he could be a standout performer for the Rams if the opportunity came his way. The Los Angeles Chargers’ run defense had dominated the game early on so the Super Bowl champs had to look to the air after their first touchdown to get some much-needed yardage and points on the board.
The rookie out of Montana State was the go-to man and he didn’t disappoint with his first catch, a highly-contested ball along the sideline and in double coverage, which he took to the house for a 67-yard touchdown in the second quarter. McCutcheon would end the night with a team-leading 5 receptions from 6 targets for 87 yards, averaging 17.4 yards per catch, scoring a 2-point conversion, and 2 touchdowns (the second, a game-winner). He is not only a deep threat receiver but also a big-body target with good hands who’s going to be a massive help to Matt Stafford this year, especially with the Rams losing Odell Beckham Jr. this season.
“There’s certain young guys that just have that right look in their eye — where you can see they’re mature beyond their years,” Head Coach Sean McVay said of the young, Bozeman-born receiver. “He’s just got one of those demeanors that you’re saying, ‘Hey, this guy, he’s going to figure it out.’”
McCutcheon has credited last year’s Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp and Rams’ new addition Allen Robinson for helping him develop. He said: “I sit behind [Robinson] in the meeting room and he always has something to coach me on. Him and Cooper. They’re geniuses when it comes to this game.”
Other rookie notables that impressed and didn’t make the list include Buffalo Bills WR Khalil Shakir, Denver Broncos WR Brandon Johnson, and Washington Commanders WR Kyric McGowan.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: Gamecock Central. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.