ROCKING ROOKIES: Rookies across the league are off to a fast start. Through the first two weeks of the season, rookies have accumulated 2,733 total yards from scrimmage, the most by rookies through two weeks of a season since 1970.
The seasons with the most total yards from scrimmage by rookies through Week 2 since 1970:
SEASON
MOST SCRIMMAGE YARDS BY ROOKIES THROUGH WEEK 2
2017
2,733
2008
2,455
1979
2,130
2016
2,057
1976
2,048
Rookies have also totaled 19 touchdowns through Week 2, the most through two weeks of a season since 1978 (21).
The seasons with the most total touchdowns by rookies through Week 2 since 1970:
SEASON
MOST TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS BY ROOKIES THROUGH WEEK 2
1978
21
1975
20
2017
19
2010
17
1984
17
1980
17
A look at some notable rookie numbers:
Three rookies rank in the top five in rushing yards through Week 2: Kansas City’s KAREEM HUNT (1st in NFL, 229 yards), Minnesota’s DALVIN COOK (3rd, 191) and Jacksonville’s LEONARD FOURNETTE (5th, 140).
Hunt has scored five touchdowns (three rushing, two receiving) in his first two career games. Only DUTCH STERNAMAN (six) of the 1920 Decatur Staleys has scored more touchdowns in his first two career games.
Hunt and Detroit rookie wide receiver KENNY GOLLADAY are both tied for second in the NFL with two receiving touchdowns.
Detroit rookie cornerback JAMAL AGNEW (88-yard punt-return touchdown)is the only player in the league this season with a kick-return touchdown.
Pittsburgh rookie wide receiver JU JU SMITH-SCHUSTER had a four-yard touchdown catch in the Steeler’s 26-9 win over Minnesota in Week 2.
Smith-Schuster, who is 20 years old, is the youngest player to score a touchdown in the NFL since 1964 (Chicago’s ANDY LIVINGSTON) and the youngest NFL player to catch a touchdown pass since 1930 (Green Bay’s ARNIE HERBER).
— NFL —
300-CLUB: Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS passed for 343 yards and two touchdowns in the Packers’ loss at Atlanta in Week 2. Rodgers’ second touchdown pass of the game – a one-yard shovel pass to running back TY MONTGOMERY – was the 300th of his career. He is the 11th quarterback in NFL history with 300 career touchdown passes.
Rodgers’ 300th touchdown pass came on his 4,742nd career attempt, the fewest attempts at the time of a player’s 300th touchdown pass in NFL history.
The players with the fewest career pass attempts to reach 300 touchdowns:
PLAYER
PASS ATTEMPTS AT TIME OF 300TH CAREER TD PASS
Aaron Rodgers
4,742
Peyton Manning
5,306
Tom Brady
5,321
Dan Marino^
5,460
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
— NFL —
GOLDEN GATES: Los Angeles Chargers tight end ANTONIO GATES had a touchdown catch in the Chargers’ Week 2 loss to Miami. Gates now has 112 career touchdown receptions, surpassing TONY GONZALEZ (111) for the most by a tight end in NFL history.
The tight ends with the most touchdown receptions in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
SEASONS
CAREER TD CATCHES
Antonio Gates
Los Angeles Chargers
2003-present
112*
Tony Gonzalez
Kansas City, Atlanta
1997-2013
111
Rob Gronkowski
New England
2010-present
69*
Jason Witten
Dallas
2003-present
65*
Shannon Sharpe^
Denver, Baltimore
1990-2003
62
*Active
^Pro Football Hall of Famer
— NFL —
FAST START: Houston rookie quarterback DESHAUN WATSON had a 49-yard touchdown run in the Texans’ 13-9 win at Cincinnati on Thursday Night Football. Watson’s touchdown run was the longest by a quarterback in his first career start in NFL history.
The quarterbacks with the longest touchdown runs in their first career start in NFL history:
PLAYER
DATE
TEAM
YARDS
Deshaun Watson
Sept. 14, 2017
Houston
49t
Tim Tebow
Dec. 19, 2010
Denver
40t
Joe Flacco
Sept. 7, 2008
Baltimore
38t
— NFL —
JOLTING JONES: Kansas City defensive end CHRIS JONES had three sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in the Chiefs’ 27-20 win over Philadelphia in Week 2.
Jones is the first player since Pittsburgh’s JAMES HARRISON in 2007 to have at least three sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in a single game.
