Top NFL rookie Week 4 performances: Rams’ Puka Nacua keeps producing, Seahawks’ Devon Witherspoon has breakout

Rookies had been making huge contributions within the NFL whether or not they had been taken within the most sensible 5 of the 2023 NFL Draft or No. 177 general, as is the case with Rams extensive receiver Puka Nacua. CBSSports.com tested one of the vital notable performances from Week 4 and broke down the highest inexperienced persons:

Offensive Rookies of the Week

Nacua is 2nd within the league in receiving yards after being taken within the 5th spherical of the 2023 NFL Draft. In a Week 4 win over the Colts, he recorded 9 receptions for 163 yards and a landing. The BYU product is averaging 13 objectives according to recreation. Cooper Kupp must go back to the lineup quickly so, how will that have an effect on Nacua’s efficiency? The concept is that Kupp is much more likely to devour into everybody else’s goal proportion.

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Achane has been on a tear since Mike McDaniel empowered him in Week 3 in opposition to the Broncos. Over the previous two video games, the observe megastar from Texas A&M has recorded 304 yards and 4 touchdowns on 26 carries, along with  seven receptions for 49 yards. Unfortunately, his newest effort (8 carries, 101 yards, two touchdowns) got here in a shedding effort to Buffalo. 

Stroud has been essentially the most constant and essentially the most to be had a number of the rookie quarterbacks. He has thrown 8 touchdowns and 0 interceptions this season, together with 16 of 30 go makes an attempt for 306 yards and two touchdowns in a dominating win over Pittsburgh. Stroud has been spreading the ball round with out hanging it in hurt’s means. 

Honorable point out: Falcons RB Bijan Robinson, Bears OT Darnell Wright, Texans C Jarrett Patterson, Rams OG Steve Avila, Browns OT Dawand Jones, Jaguars OT Anton Harrison

Defensive Rookies of the Week

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For the entire speak about Carter’s conditioning and paintings ethic, he sniffed out a display early in opposition to the Commanders and chased it down at the again aspect. When Carter isn’t double-teamed, he sheds his blocker very easily via energy. Late within the recreation, the No. 9 general variety was once testing a few of his different strikes, together with a spin transfer that ended in the offensive lineman both unintentionally or deliberately tripping him and a euro step transfer to get the blocker’s momentum transferring in the wrong way earlier than crossing his face for a very easy power.

Carter was once credited with 5 pressures, which brings his season general as much as 20; eighth-most within the NFL, in step with TruMedia.

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Witherspoon made his presence felt on Monday night time in a blowout win in opposition to the Giants. He had an interception returned 97 yards for a landing, in addition to two sacks. According to TruMedia, he was once centered 4 occasions and allowed 3 receptions for 19 yards. On the first actual go of the sport, Witherspoon was once sporting a direction around the box when he noticed tight finish Daniel Bellinger make the catch beneath. He peeled off his task and made the take on in area. It is that stage of consciousness that had him making game-changing performs in faculty and now within the NFL. 

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Turner was once centered 4 occasions all the way through the Bengals’ loss to the Titans however allowed 0 receptions, in step with TruMedia. He did a excellent task of staying in-phase in opposition to DeAndre Hopkins and others, whilst getting his eyes again to find the ball. Turner seems to be extra assured and happy with every passing week.

Smith was once centered 3 times in opposition to the Broncos however allowed only one reception for 4 yards, in step with TruMedia. He pressured an incompletion on one goal. They did numerous zone drops however Smith was once at all times keen to flash to the flat in run toughen. The 48-yard achieve to Marvin Mims past due gave the look to be the results of the protection rotating over past due relatively than Smith now not getting deep sufficient in protection. The Bears desperately wanted anyone to step up within the absence of Kyler Gordon, Jaylon Johnson and Smith has in a small pattern dimension.