There are two Detroit Lions Pepsi Rookie of the Year nominees.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs and TE Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions are the 2023 Pepsi Rookie of the Year nominees. Click this to cast your vote for them!
The NFL unveiled six contenders on Tuesday for the 2023 Pepsi Rookie of the Year, which will be determined by fan voting. The Pepsi Rookie of the Year is entirely chosen by fan vote, which should not be confused with the official Offensive or Defensive Rookie of the Year awards.
Two Detroit Lions players, running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta, were nominated this year. The other four finalists are Falcons RB Bijan Robinson, Dolphins RB De’Von Achane, Rams WR Puka Nacua, and Texans QB C.J. Stroud.
Here is a glance at the 2023 season stats for each player:
Stroud: 319 of 499, 4,108 yards, 5 interceptions, 23 touchdowns, and a 100.8 passing rating.
Robinson: 58 catches, 487 yards, 4 touchdowns; 214 carries, 976 yards (4.6 YPC), 4 touchdowns
Achane: 27 catches, 197 yards, 3 touchdowns; 103 carries, 800 yards (7.8 YPC), 8 TDs
Gibbs: 52 catches, 316 yards, 1 touchdown; 182 carries, 945 yards (5.2 YPC), 10 touchdowns
LaPorta: 889 yards, 10 touchdowns, 86 catches
Nacua: 12 catches, 89 yards; 105 catches, 1,486 yards, 6 touchdowns
Although it appears that Stroud will easily win the vote, this doesn’t lessen the incredible years that Gibbs and LaPorta had. LaPorta achieved a record for the most catches made in a season by an NFL rookie tight end. His 10 touchdowns were just two short of the record, and his 889 yards were also the fourth-highest ever for a rookie tight end.
Regarding Gibbs, he produced a ton even though he was the obvious RB2 for the majority of the season’s first half. Gibbs tied for third in running touchdowns (9), finished third in yards per carry (5.3), and ranked seventh in rushing yards (698) from Week 8 to the end of the season.
