Rookie Report: Training camp surprises

The Rookie Report provides a running look at first-year standouts, surprises, and Rookie of the Year candidates. This week, we'll be highlighting three lesser-known players making a name for themselves in training camp.

John Brown

The Arizona Cardinals appear to have uncovered a diamond in the rough in John Brown, a 5-foot-10, 179-pound wide receiver out of Pittsburg State. The third-round pick is garnering plenty of praise in training camp and made an immediate impact in his first preseason game, catching five passes for a team-leading 87 yards against the Houston Texans.

Post-Draft Expectations

Despite posting the third-fastest 40-yard dash (4.34 seconds) of any player at the NFL Scouting Combine, there were some who believed Brown was overdrafted at No. 91. The Cardinals, of course, felt otherwise and have been pleasantly surprised by the quick transition he's made into the NFL.

Short and speedy, Brown fits the mold of a Bruce Arians prototype receiver. Many are comparing him to T.Y. Hilton, another undersized wideout who had a productive rookie campaign under Arians in Indianapolis. Early projections had Brown playing a special teams role as a rookie, but it now looks as though he could push Ted Ginn Jr. for No. 3 receiver duties.

What They're Saying

"I haven't seen a rookie come in and do what he's done - and it's early still - since Anquan Boldin. This guy came through the first day, and being from Pittsburg State, has uncanny instincts, unbelievable understanding of route concepts, leverage, being in the right spot at the right time. On top of great ball skills, he has unusual speed and explosiveness." – Cardinals general manager Steve Keim

"Brown exceeded expectations with five catches for 87 yards on a team-high 10 targets against the Texans. He even drew a 39-yard interference call as cornerbacks struggled to deal with his 4.34 wheels. Having coached a similar rookie in T.Y. Hilton, Bruce Arians is the right strategist to make use of Brown's talents." – NFL Media's Chris Wesseling

"The one thing that jumped out is nothing is too big for him. Whether we are at the facility and no one is around or there is 10,000 people in the stands and we are in pads and you are going against Patrick Peterson, all that, nothing is too big for him. He doesn't have big eyes in the huddle, looking around nervously." – Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer

"It's pretty amazing to watch him as a rookie in his first training camp do the things that he does." – CBS Sports' Pete Prisco

Richard Rodgers

The Green Bay Packers took a gamble with the No. 98 overall pick, selecting 6-foot-4, 257-pound California tight end Richard Rodgers. Scouts praised Rodgers for his good balance and body control, but took issue with his lack of speed. He has since bulked up and is making a strong case for the starting job.

Post-Draft Expectations

Rodgers played in 35 games over the course of his three seasons at Cal, making 11 starts. While his college numbers were less than stellar (59 receptions for 896 yards and two touchdowns), Rodgers' athleticism and versatility (he played both tight end and slot receiver for the Bears) were intriguing enough to the Packers to warrant using a third-round pick on him.

In Green Bay, Rodgers joins a tight end group that includes Andrew Quarless and Brandon Bostick. He'll be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, and if he continues to perform like he did in the preseason opener, it's only a matter of time before he finds himself at the top of the Packers' depth chart.

What They're Saying

"Very impressed with Richard. He really jumped out in the offseason program, and I think he's really been very consistent. He's been asked to do a lot, and he's doing very well. So I'm very pleased with his work." – Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers

"The rookie Rodgers drew the start in the first preseason game and held his own. His upside is immense." – Packer Plus magazine's Rob Reischel

"Obviously not blazing speed. But he does some very good things with his footwork and he's efficient with his movement. As far as where I thought he ranked with the other tight ends, I think the things he brought to the table were his smarts, his work attitude and really his detail in everything he did. He's very efficient." – Packers tight ends coach Jerry Fontenot

"He's continued to do what he did in the spring. He flashed a lot in the spring. We didn’t have pads on, but now that we’ve gotten into pads, he's doing the same things. He's still learning, but he's a big kid, he's a strong kid, with good hands, and we're happy with him." – Packers offensive coordinator Tom Clements

T.J. Carrie

After flying under the radar for much of spring practice, seventh-round pick T.J. Carrie is emerging as one of the Oakland Raiders' must-watch players. If he is able to continue his rapid development and stay healthy, Carrie could see a considerable number of snaps in his first year.

Post-Draft Expectations

Carrie's draft slide was largely due to his extensive injury history, as he has the ideal size and athleticism for an NFL cornerback. He appeared in all 13 games for Ohio State in 2013 after missing the previous season with a shoulder injury, finishing with 42 tackles, eight pass breakups, four interceptions, and one sack.

The Raiders drafted Carrie primarily for his special teams abilities, but have been using him as the second-team slot corner behind Carlos Rogers in training camp.

What They're Saying

"We thought T.J. had some ability, but I think he's more mature than maybe I would have known from a rookie DB coming in from Ohio. I've been very impressed with his knowledge of the game." – Raiders head coach Dennis Allen

"He has a ways to go to be a starter, but Carrie is showing a knack for being a slot corner behind Carlos Rogers and is a candidate to return punts and play on special teams." – Bay Area News Group's Jerry McDonald

"He surprised me a little bit. He came in with a lot of knowledge of the game, and he has the physical attributes to do anything on the field." – Raiders cornerback Chimdi Chekwa

"We come from the same high school, same city, same area. I've been through some things in my career and I just try and let him learn from my experience, on the field and off." – Raiders running back Maurice Jones-Drew

Quick Hits

• The Chicago Bears had a bit of a scare when first-round pick Kyle Fuller left Thursday's preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with an ankle injury. X-rays on the cornerback came back negative for a fracture and the injury is not believed to be serious. Fuller is primed for a big role on the Bears' secondary this season, so they cannot afford to have him out long term.
• Johnny Manziel and a few other Cleveland Browns rookies were reportedly fined after misreading their schedule and showing up late to a team meeting. The tardiness did not factor into the Browns' decision to name Brian Hoyer their starter for Monday's preseason game, but it appears Manziel has some catching up to do in the quarterback race.
• After impressing early on in training camp, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is going through some growing pains. He threw three interceptions during Monday's practice and another two Wednesday, telling reporters later in the week, "I haven't been pressing, but I have been overthinking things."
• Jarvis Landry didn't get many opportunities to return punts at LSU, but is now embracing his role as the Miami Dolphins' return specialist. The second-round pick returned a punt for 48 yards in the Dolphins' preseason opener and added a 26-yard kick return.
• New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks closed out the team's Greenbrier training camp in style, catching a touchdown pass of about 50 yards from Luke McCown.