Voters on NFL.com have made their choice. Wide receiver-kick returner Randall Cobb of the Green Bay Packers is the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for games played on Sept. 8-12, the NFL announced today.
Cobb had two catches for 35 yards and one touchdown, one punt return for five yards and two kickoff returns for 135 yards and a touchdown in the Packers' 42-34 win over the New Orleans Saints. His kickoff return score went for an NFL record-tying 108-yards and gave the Packers a 15-point lead in the third quarter lead to their victory.
Cobb was selected from among five finalists through fan votes on NFL.com/rookies. The other finalists were wide receiver Doug Baldwin of the Seattle Seahawks, linebacker Ryan Kerrigan of the Washington Redskins, quarterback Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers and cornerback-punt returner Patrick Peterson of the Arizona Cardinals.
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 XLVI in Indianapolis.
This is Pepsi's 10th year as the official soft drink sponsor of the NFL and the 10th year that Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year awards.
PEPSI ROOKIE OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks
Baldwin had four catches for 83 yards and a score. He hit pay dirt on a 55-yard touchdown pass that brought the Seahawks to within two points in the fourth quarter of a 33-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers
Cobb had two catches for 35 yards and one touchdown, one punt return for five yards and two kickoff returns for 135 yards and a touchdown. His kickoff return score went for an NFL record-tying 108 yard and gave the Packers a 15-point third quarter lead en route to a 42-34 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
Ryan Kerrigan, Washington Redskins
Kerrigan had five tackles and one interception in the Redskins’ 28-14 win over the New York Giants. He took his pick nine yards to the house to give the Redskins a third quarter lead that they would not relinquish.
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
Newton completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 422 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. In doing so, he broke the record for most passing yards by a rookie in his NFL debut. His one-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter gave the Panthers a seven-point lead in a game the team eventually lost 28-21 to the Arizona Cardinals.
Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals
Peterson returned a punt 89 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the Cardinals’ 28-21 win over the Carolina Panthers. He added five tackles on defense.