Rookie Report: Hurns, Cooks, Benjamin among early standouts

The Rookie Report provides a running look at first-year standouts, surprises, and Rookie of the Year candidates.

Here's who stood out during the opening week of the season, including some of the names to watch heading into Week 2.

Offense

Allen Hurns
WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

One of the big surprises of the preseason, Hurns continues to prove he's the real deal. The undrafted rookie caught four passes for 110 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles and became the first player in NFL history to score two receiving touchdowns in the first quarter of his debut.

Brandin Cooks
WR, New Orleans Saints

Lining up all over the field against the Atlanta Falcons, the first-round pick looked every bit the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate many are pegging him as. Cooks finished the game with seven receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown, and also added an 18-yard run.

Kelvin Benjamin
WR, Carolina Panthers

Benjamin got off to a hot start in the Panthers' victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, catching six of his eight targets for 92 yards, including an impressive 26-yard touchdown grab. The 28th overall pick has been a breath of fresh air for Carolina's depleted receiving corps.

Terrance West
RB, Cleveland Browns

Relieving an injured Ben Tate in the Browns' season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, West rushed for a team-leading 100 yards on 16 carries. The third-round pick will get the call again this week against the New Orleans Saints, who allowed 123 yards rushing against the Falcons in Week 1.

Carlos Hyde
RB, San Francisco 49ers

Hyde's Week 1 performance has some calling for a changing of the guard in San Francisco, and while that's unlikely to happen any time soon, the 49ers have a lot to be impressed about when it comes to their second-round pick. Hyde rushed seven times for 50 yards and recorded the first touchdown of his career against the Dallas Cowboys. 

Defense

Anthony Barr
LB, Minnesota Vikings

Barr played 88 percent of the Vikings' defensive snaps in their blowout win over the St. Louis Rams, recording a team-high seven tackles and one quarterback hit. The UCLA product was especially effective in coverage, allowing only 16 yards on four targeted passes.

Jason Verrett
CB, San Diego Chargers

The Chargers' first-round selection was impressive in his debut, notching four tackles and a pass breakup against the Arizona Cardinals. He was targeted seven times by Arizona's passing attack, allowing just three receptions for 25 yards, and two yards after the catch.

Chris McCain
LB, Miami Dolphins

McCain was a big part of the Dolphins' defense and special teams in their 33-20 victory over the New England Patriots. The undrafted rookie had a blocked punt on the first series of the game and sacked one of his childhood idols, Tom Brady, for a nine-yard loss.

Ryan Shazier
LB, Pittsburgh Steelers

As the first rookie linebacker since 2001 to start a regular-season opener for the Steelers, expectations were high for Shazier in Week 1. He had a solid debut, racking up six tackles and one assist with one tackle for a loss. His coverage could use some work, but there is plenty of upside to Shazier.

Calvin Pryor
S, New York Jets

Rex Ryan raved about Pryor all offseason, and it's easy to see why the Jets head coach is so high on the No. 18 overall pick. Pryor made several impressive plays in his debut, finishing with four tackles and two pass breakups.

Quick Hits

• The Houston Texans will be without No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney for the next four to six weeks as he recovers from a torn meniscus. Teammate D.J. Swearinger said the turf at NRG Stadium was to blame for Clowney's injury, but Texans head coach Bill O'Brien sounded a bit skeptical about that theory.
• Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians wasn't lying when he said he planned to use John Brown on 60 percent of the team's offensive snaps this season. The rookie receiver played 43 of Arizona's 74 snaps against the San Diego Chargers and scored the go-ahead touchdown.
• Johnny Manziel didn't see the field in the Browns' season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but that may change this week. Head coach Mike Pettine told reporters that a package centered around the rookie quarterback "could happen" Sunday when Cleveland hosts the New Orleans Saints.
• Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers marks a homecoming of sorts for Detroit Lions rookie tight end Eric Ebron, who played college football at North Carolina. The No. 10 overall pick was held without a catch in his NFL debut.
• Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was up-and-down in Week 1, completing 20-of-32 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. He'll make his home debut Sunday against the Houston Texans, the team that drafted his older brother David No. 1 overall in 2002.