(AP photo)
One doesn’t play due to injury and moves down a spot. The other not only plays, but scores two touchdowns in his team’s fifth-straight win and moves up a spot.
That’s the tale of Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III and running back Alfred Morris in the most recent version of “Rookie Watch,” a weekly list of the NFL’s top rookies according to ESPN.com’s Matt Williamson.
Griffin III — who was nursing a sprained LCL in his right knee — was relieved by fellow rookie quarterback Kirk Cousins in last Sunday’s 38-21 win over the Cleveland Browns. Griffin III’s playing status for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles is yet to be determined, but he’s obviously had a terrific rookie season so far, and was ranked No. 2 in “Rookie Watch” last week.
Morris, meanwhile, continued his own strong rookie campaign against the Browns, running 27 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns. He’s already the Redskins’ rookie record holder for rushing yards (1,322) and touchdowns (nine), and, with two very strong games to finish out the season, he could challenge Clinton Portis’ single-season Redskins rushing record (1,516 yards, set in 2005). Morris came in as the No. 5 rookie in last week’s “Rookie Watch.”
You can read the entire piece by clicking here, but you must have ESPN Insider access to get the whole thing. So for those only interested in what Williamson had to write about the Redskins on the list, here you go:
No. 3 – Robert Griffin III, QB:
“Because of his knee injury, Griffin had to sit out Week 15. In his stead, fellow rookie Kirk Cousins played a very sound and efficient game. It appears Griffin will not be out ,long and the Redskins were able to get a key road win in Cleveland to move into a first-place tie in the NFC East. Washington can win the division outright if it can beat Philadelphia and Dallas in its final two games. Expect to see Griffin in the playoffs.”
No. 4 – Alfred Morris, HB:
“What might be most remarkable about Morris’ rookie season is his week-to-week consistency. He pretty much does the same thing every week and doesn’t have the usual ups and downs of a rookie. In Week 15 against Cleveland, Morris had 87 rushing yards, which is right at his weekly average, and he found the end zone twice.”
Griffin III and Morris remain the only NFC East representatives in the Top 10 of Williamson’s “Rookie Watch.” For a second week, New York Giants’ running back David Wilson was listed among the “other notables.”
No players from the Eagles made Williamson’s “Rookie Watch” this week. The Redskins (8-6) and the Eagles (4-10) face off Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
CHIME IN: What do YOU think of the Redskins’ representatives on Matt Williamson’s weekly “Rookie Watch” column? Feel free to comment below.
