NFL rookie report: Marcus Mariota, Amari Cooper and more

Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota had 13 touchdown passes in the first half of the season, the most of any rookie in NFL history through the first eight games. And that's with missing two starts because of a knee injury. Mariota added a rushing touchdown in Thursday night's 19-13 loss to the Jaguars.

-- Raiders receiver Amari Cooper leads NFL rookies in all significant categories: catches (50), receiving yards (732) and touchdown catches (four).

-- Bills cornerback Ronald Darby is thriving in Rex Ryan's defense. He leads not only all NFL rookies, but all NFL players, with 18 passes defensed.

-- Unsung fourth-round linebacker Kwon Alexander of the Bucs has 63 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, seven passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

-- Fifth-round receiver Stefon Diggs has developed a nice chemistry with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in Minnesota. The former Maryland receiver is second among rookie receivers with 507 yards. Diggs didn't see his first action until Week 4. His emergence helps make up for the disappointing career of former first-round pick Cordarrelle Patterson, who has just two catches for 10 yards.

By Bob Glauber

Special to NewsdayBobGlauber

Bob Glauber retired in 2022 after covering the NFL for nearly 40 years. He was selected in 2021 for the Bill Nunn Career Achievement Award by the Pro Football Writers of America, and is a three-time winner of the New York State Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. President of the PFWA for the 2018-20 seasons, he is the author of “The Forgotten First” and “Guts and Genius.”