9 NFL Rookies Who Shined in Their Debuts

Several NFL rookies achieved their dream of playing professional football this past weekend while vying for a chance to have a big hand in helping their team. A good first game can help set the tone for a season and perhaps even the rest of a player's career.

Making that good first impression is difficult, but a few rookies came through and helped their team in a big manner on opening week. From first-round picks to undrafted free agents, here are the nine players who had the biggest impact for this weekend.

Raiders QB Derek Carr

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The Oakland Raiders were forced to be one-dimensional against the New York Jets when Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden combined for only two yards per carry on average. But rookie quarterback Derek Carr kept the Raiders in this game.

Carr went 20-of-32 passing for 151 yards and threw two touchdown passes in his NFL debut. He was the only rookie quarterback to play in Week 1.

Although the Raiders fell short, fans should feel encouraged with the quarterback play moving forward.

Browns RBs Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell

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The Pittsburgh Steelers were up on the Cleveland Browns at halftime 27-3. It appeared the Steelers would run over the Browns. However, a pair of Browns rookies helped the team rally and fight back to tie the game.

Terrance West racked up 100 yards on 16 rushes to move the chains and bring the Browns closer to the end zone. Undrafted rookie Isaiah Crowell surprised a lot of people with his performance when he bulldozed his way for two touchdowns.

Crowell’s two touchdowns started the rally of the Browns scoring 24 unanswered points. It would be nice if Ben Tate returns soon to help Cleveland’s offense, but if he doesn’t, the rushing game has a bright future with West and Crowell.

49ers RB Carlos Hyde

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The San Francisco 49ers had no problems dominating on the road against the Dallas Cowboys. In fact, rookie running back Carlos Hyde got in on the fun.

Hyde filled in for Frank Gore at times and did not let the team down. He ran for a touchdown in the second quarter to give San Francisco a 28-3 lead before halftime.

He finished with 50 yards on seven carries. Although the 49ers are known for their passing game, they could be a threat as Gore and Hyde have the potential to form a strong one-two punch as a running back duo.

Saints WR Brandin Cooks

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Every wide receiver wants an elite quarterback like Drew Brees. Brandin Cooks has the honor of not only playing with him but also having a hand in helping the New Orleans Saints be in a position to win. Marques Colston and Jimmy Graham were in the top two on the team in receiving yards, but there was more to go around for the Saints.

In a back-and-forth battle against the Atlanta Falcons, Cooks pulled in seven catches for 77 yards and caught the team’s only touchdown pass.

Despite the 37-34 loss, Brees knows he has multiple viable weapons in the passing game, and Cooks is one of them.

Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin

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With Derek Anderson filling in for Cam Newton, wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin still managed to have an impressive NFL debut. He finished as the team leader in receiving yards with 92 and eventually got in on the scoring with a touchdown reception in the fourth quarter to give Carolina a 17-0 lead on the road.

It will be fun to see what Benjamin can do when Newton returns for the Panthers.

Cardinals WR John Brown

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Notching two catches for 29 yards isn’t anything flashy. But John Brown came through like a seasoned veteran when the Cardinals needed it the most in the fourth quarter.

The Arizona Cardinals were down 17-6 going into the fourth quarter before Carson Palmer connected on two touchdown passes. With 2:25 left to go in the game, Brown caught a pass on a slip screen and dodged a defender to run it in for the eventual game-winning touchdown. That play helped complete the 18-17 comeback in the final game of Week 1 on Monday Night Football.

Broncos CB Bradley Roby

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Seven tackles and three pass deflections are nice to have on the stat sheet, but that doesn’t explain Bradley Roby’s big moment against the Indianapolis Colts.

While the Colts were down 24-0 late in the second quarter, Andrew Luck brought the team back. After Denver’s 24 unanswered points to start the game, the Colts went on a 24-7 run.

With less than two minutes to go, Roby lined up in the slot against Reggie Wayne. An elite veteran against a rookie cornerback sounds enticing for the offense, but Roby had other plans.

On 4th-and-6, Roby closed in on the pass to Wayne. Luck’s pass was perfectly targeted to Wayne, but Roby reached underneath and swatted the ball away to seal the 31-24 win for Denver.

The Broncos improved their pass rush and have two great cornerbacks in Aqib Talib and Chris Harris. With Roby, Denver’s defense will be hard to stop.

Packers FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

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Ha Ha Clinton-Dix had the unique NFL debut of playing in the league’s season opener against the defending Super Bowl champions. Although the Green Bay Packers fell 36-16, Clinton-Dix made his presence known on defense and special teams.

During Seattle’s opening drive, Clinton-Dix came up with a sack, as the Packers stood strong and limited the Seahawks to a field goal. He came up big again on the following drive when the Packers were forced to punt on fourth down.

Seahawks punt returner Earl Thomas muffed the return, and Clinton-Dix fell on the ball. That kept Green Bay on the field, as it tacked on a touchdown and took the lead at the time.

Heads-up plays by a rookie always impress the coaches, and fans love them as well. Everyone in Green Bay hopes to see more of that from him as one of the best rookie defensive backs.

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