Week 2 Rookie Report: Winston bounces back as Jones breaks out

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Week 2 of the NFL season was one of the weirdest weeks in recent memory, but one thing wasn’t strange about it: Rookies stepping up and making a big impact in wins for their team, including many who had poor or quiet Week 1 performances. Three of the four rookies Chris Tripodi breaks down today played instrumental roles in their team’s victories, including a top pick who was a big reason for his team’s loss in Week 1. 

Jameis Winston (QB-TB)

To say Winston had a rough Week 1 would be doing the word “rough” a huge disservice. Winston’s first career touchdown pass actually went the other way, as Coty Sensabaugh picked him off on the rookie’s first possession. While he threw two touchdowns, the Florida State product completed just 16 of 33 passes for 210 yards in a 28-point loss. He was much more efficient against the Saints in Week 2, completing 14 of 21 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown and adding 23 yards and a score on the ground.

Winston’s first pass of the game came on an early third-down play, as he rifled a 21-yard completion to Austin Seferian-Jenkins for a first down. The rookie quarterback stood tall in the pocket despite some pressure and put the pass high enough to prevent the trailing defensive back from making a play on the ball and allow his 6-6 tight end to go up and get the ball. Winston almost had another big completion to Seferian-Jenkins in the second quarter, but underthrew the wide-open tight end deep down the field on a play-action pass, leading to a drop. If Winston had driven the ball further, the play had an outside chance to be a touchdown despite safety Kenny Phillips bearing down on Seferian-Jenkins.


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