Voters on NFL.com have made their choice. Wide receiver-kick returner Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys is the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for games played on October 24-25, the NFL announced on Friday.
Bryant accounted for 171 total yards and three touchdowns, including one on a 93-yard punt return and two on fourth-quarter receptions in the Cowboys' 41-35 loss to the New York Giants.
Bryant was selected from among five finalists through fan votes on NFL.com/rookies. The other finalists were safety Eric Berry of the Kansas City Chiefs, wide receiver David Gettis of the Carolina Panthers, wide receiver Jordan Shipley of the Cincinnati Bengals, and wide receiver Mike Williams of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After the regular season, five players will be nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year honors. Fans can vote for the winner on NFL.com/rookies throughout the month of January. The winner will be announced at a press conference at Super Bowl XLV in North Texas.
This is Pepsi's ninth year as the official soft-drink sponsor of the NFL and the ninth year that Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year awards.
A closer look at the finalists:
Berry had three tackles, one interception and forced one fumble in the
Chiefs' 42-20 win over the
Jacksonville Jaguars.
Gettis led the
Panthers to a 23-20 win over the San Francisco
49ers with eight receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns.
Bryant accounted for 171 total yards and three touchdowns, including one on a 93-yard punt return and two on fourth-quarter receptions in the
Cowboys' 41-35 loss to the
Giants.
Shipley had six catches for 131 yards, including one 64-yard touchdown catch, in the
Bengals' 39-32 loss to the Atlanta
Falcons.
Williams had five receptions for 82 yards and recovered a fumble that led to a
Buccaneers' field goal in Tampa Bay's 18-17 win over the
St. Louis Rams.
