No preseason, no problem: NFL rookies shine in strange year

Updated Dec. 29, 2020 2:30 p.m. ET

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Facing fourth-and-goal at the 1 in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams, the New York Jets turned to veteran Frank Gore — along with rookie Mekhi Becton.

The critical play called for Gore to run behind Becton, a 6-foot-7, 363-pound left tackle and the 11th overall pick in the 2020 draft. Becton stonewalled five-time All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald and

“It was great because that’s what I strive for,” Becton said. “I want to have everything on my shoulders. I want the ball to be behind me in clutch situations like that.”

Becton is among dozens of rookies who have made significant impacts this season, disproving the notion that losing preseason games and organized team activities because of the coronavirus pandemic would negatively affect first-year players.

Instead, they broke records and raised eyebrows across the league. Washington’s Chase Young, Los Angeles’ Justin Herbert, Tampa Bay’s Tristan Wirfs and Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson are at the top of what’s shaping up to be a stellar rookie class, a group that features several franchise quarterbacks, playmakers on both sides of the ball and quite possibly the best collection of offensive tackles in decades.

Young and Jefferson made the Pro Bowl, and surely more rookies would have joined them as alternates at the league’s now-canceled all-star game.

Young has 42 tackles, including 6½ sacks, and

And that was only part of the big picture for the second overall pick.

“It’s crazy unusual for a rookie, I think, to have the type of leadership that Chase has, genuine leadership,” Washington quarterback Alex Smith said. “I think a lot of young guys, especially high picks, I think you feel pressure to do it some way or somehow. I think Chase is so comfortable in his own skin and being who he is.

“I think guys respect that, but it’s rare to have a guy that young step in and really affect his teammates as positively as he has. He’s definitely unique.”

Jefferson has 79 catches for 1,267 yards and seven touchdowns,

“Everything about that kid is special,” Minnesota running back Dalvin Cook said. “He’s got special written on him. ... Carries himself like a five-year vet. You can’t tell the difference. If you put him in the locker room with the vets, you would think he’d fit right in.

“I haven’t seen him shy away from any big moment. I love being around him, that’s my brother. I think he’s just scratching the surface.”

Herbert has cooled off over the past five weeks, but he still has the

Wirfs has been so good — aside from a Week 5 showing against Chicago star Khalil Mack — that he’s considered an outside candidate to become the first non-skill-position player to earn NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

“He’s playing at a Pro Bowl level, and that’s what we anticipated,” Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians said. “He’s doing it week in and week out, so that’s kind of what I expect every week now.”

Wirfs, Becton, Cleveland’s Jedrick Wills, Miami’s Austin Jackson and Andrew Thomas of the New York Giants have started a combined 67 games this season — Wirfs at right tackle and the others at left.

Wirfs and Wills have been the best of the bunch, but not by much.

“Talk about a rookie coming in, starting every game and just being focused,” Browns Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio said of Wills. “Has it been perfect? No, but the way he competes ... a lot of the stuff he has done has been on an island one on one. It has been impressive.”

So have many of his rookie classmates.

Tampa Bay safety Antoine Winfield, Baltimore linebacker Patrick Queen, Miami defensive tackle Raekwon Davis, Indianapolis safety Julian Blackmon and Carolina linebacker Jeremy Chinn look like budding NFL defensive stars.

Receivers CeeDee Lamb (Dallas), Brandon Aiyuk (San Francisco) and Chase Claypool (Pittsburgh), along with Jefferson, have outperformed higher picks and college teammates Henry Ruggs (Las Vegas) and Jerry Jeudy (Denver).

And a number of running backs have emerged as future fantasy football studs, most notably Kansas City’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Detroit’s D’Andre Swift, Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor, Baltimore’s J.K. Dobbins, Washington’s Antonio Gibson and Jacksonville undrafted rookie James Robinson.

“We’re growing and we’re starting to get a hang of the game,” said Dolphins right tackle Robert Hunt, a second-round pick and one of six Miami rookies starting on offense.

“We’re starting to get better and understanding the game a little more. This is a game that you’ve got to grow, and I think we’re all growing. We’re rookies still, but we’re definitely growing.”

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AP Sports Writers Dave Campbell, Schuyler Dixon, Josh Dubow, Howard Fendrich, Dave Ginsburg, Joe Reedy, Dave Skretta, Teresa Walker, Dennis Waszak, Steven Wine and Tom Withers contributed to this report.

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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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National Football League

Philip Rivers

Dalvin Cook

Khalil Mack

Austin Jackson

Andrew Thomas

Brandon Aiyuk

CeeDee Lamb

Raekwon Davis

Frank Gore

Jeremy Chinn

Chase Claypool

James Robinson

Antoine Winfield Jr.

Patrick Queen

Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Chase Young

Stefon Diggs

Antonio Gibson

Aaron Donald

Joel Bitonio