The NFL season has hit the quarter mark, and it took four weeks to see a rookie quarterback start a game as Jalon Daniels made his debut as a starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But the story of Week 4 wasn't the quarterback play. It was another former Ohio State star putting together a dominant defensive performance.
A week after Commanders linebacker Sonny Styles earned Defensive Player of the Week honors, Giants rookie Arvell Reese made his own statement with a performance that has New York fans excited about the future of their defense.
But Reese wasn't the only rookie turning heads. From a highly drafted receiver finally breaking out to an overlooked linebacker making franchise history, Week 4 showed that some of the biggest rookie surprises are just getting started.
In this Week 5 edition of the NFL Rookie Report, we spotlight Reese's dominant Week 4 performance, highlight the rookies whose stock is rising and identify a Day 3 steal who could be earning a much bigger role.
Rookie of the Week: Arvell Reese
The New York Giants are sitting at 3-1 atop the NFC East, and a major reason for their success has been the play of their young talent. Along with 2025 first-round pick Abdul Carter finding his groove in the NFL, the Giants are also benefiting from the defensive play of their top rookie, Arvell Reese, who entered the season with high expectations.
A week after his former Ohio State teammate, Sonny Styles, put together a breakout performance, Reese did his best to top that effort with an outstanding showing in the team's 36-24 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
Reese was everywhere in that game, racking up nine solo tackles, one tackle for loss, three passes defensed, an interception and two quarterback pressures. Talk about loading up the stat sheet. The individual effort earned Reese a PFF defensive grade of 90.5, which was tied for seventh-best in the entire NFL and tops among rookies.
ARVELL REESE TAKES IT🔥
— New York Giants (@Giants) October 4, 2026
📺: CBS/Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/vm6RQr629J
While the interception was impressive, Giants fans should be thrilled that the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft is making an impact early in his career. We know head coach John Harbaugh is impressed with how his rookie linebacker performed in the Week 4 victory and through the early part of his NFL career.
"He was all over the field again. He played great," Harbaugh told the media following the game. "I could have given him, he may get a game ball yet for defensive player of the game. I don't know, but he had an interception, had numerous, numerous tackles again. He has really taken off."
Like Styles, the goal for Reese is to continue building on a performance like Sunday's and grow into the week-to-week impact player the Giants envisioned when they drafted him.
Rookies who caught our attention
Denzel Boston, WR, Cleveland Browns
It was another solid week for Denzel Boston, who continues to show he should've been a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. After being featured in our previous NFL Rookie Report, Boston has catapulted himself into the conversation for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, and he continues to show why each week.
In the team's win over the Steelers in Week 4, Boston hauled in four catches for 89 yards, including a 60-yard reception. With that play, he is showing he can produce the type of explosive plays that put him on the map as a top receiver prospect during his days with the Washington Huskies.
Gabe Jacas, LB, New England Patriots
The Patriots' second-round pick made his presence known in the team's 29-26 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Week 4. With three tackles and three quarterback pressures, Jacas ranked among the highest-graded rookies in the NFL in Week 4, earning an 84.4 overall PFF grade.
One notable play in the game was Jacas bulldozing through Bills veteran tackle Dion Dawkins and nearly sacking Josh Allen in the end zone. In showing off that upper-body strength that made him a highly regarded Day 2 prospect, Jacas is looking like the type of pass rusher the Patriots have been searching for.
Carnell Tate, WR, Tennessee Titans
The Titans finally saw the Carnell Tate they selected No. 4 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Following a slow start to his NFL career, the Ohio State product had a breakout week and showed why he was considered one of the most important rookies in the AFC South.
In the game, he established himself as Cam Ward's go-to guy with nine catches for 145 yards. With a few of those catches coming on off-schedule throws from Ward, Titans fans should be encouraged by the chemistry the two are forming.
Can he put together a string of productive performances? That is now the question for the rookie receiver.
Vega Ioane, OG, Baltimore Ravens
The Penn State product got his first NFL start at center in Week 4 and showed off his ability to dominate no matter where he lines up along the interior of the offensive line.
Forced into the role due to injuries, Vega Ioane stepped up in a big way by using the upper-body strength and lower-body power he was noted for as a first-round prospect. He allowed just one quarterback pressure and held his own going against Titans defensive star Jeffery Simmons.
Sonny Styles, LB, Washington Commanders
A week after taking home Defensive Player of the Week honors, it was interesting to see how Sonny Styles would perform against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4, especially with Jonathan Taylor in the backfield.
The rookie held his own and put together another solid performance with seven total tackles. What's impressive about Styles is his ability to make plays in coverage as well.
In the game, Styles allowed just two yards on three targets, showing off the versatility and all-around impact that earned him high praise at Ohio State. It's good to see him doing it at the NFL level.
Rookie stock watch
Stock up: KC Concepcion, WR, Cleveland Browns
While Denzel Boston is getting all the attention in Cleveland, the team's first-round pick, KC Concepcion, is making an impact as well.
Concepcion was targeted eight times in the team's 27-24 win over the Steelers. He caught five passes for 64 yards. With one of those receptions going for over 20 yards, Concepcion is giving the Browns another young playmaker and adding to the speculation surrounding veteran receiver Jerry Jeudy's future with the team.
Stock up: Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Miami Dolphins
Jacob Rodriguez continues to be a bright spot for the winless Dolphins. In the team's 15-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Rodriguez made franchise history by recording 18 tackles.
The performance earned the former Texas Tech star his second consecutive Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week nomination and put the entire league on notice as he continues to develop into the centerpiece of the Dolphins' defense.
Stock down: Peter Woods, DT, Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs rookie Peter Woods didn't have a good showing in the team's Week 4 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
With a PFF grade of just 32.9, Woods struggled against the run and didn't apply any pressure on Kirk Cousins in his 14 pass-rush snaps.
As a first-round pick, the Chiefs need to get more out of Woods going forward, especially given the athleticism that made him such a highly regarded defensive tackle entering the draft.
Day 3 steal: Robert Spears-Jennings, S, Pittsburgh Steelers
The bright spot in the Steelers' 27-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night was the breakout performance of safety Robert Spears-Jennings, who recorded his first interception and racked up seven total tackles and two passes defensed.
Selected in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Oklahoma Sooners product came into the league with raw athletic traits and was already known for his aggressive style in the defensive backfield.
That blend of athleticism and aggressiveness translated onto the field in Week 4, earning him a Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week nomination. His performance also showed how a late-round pick initially expected to contribute primarily on special teams can earn defensive snaps and make impact plays.
The Steelers' head coach also sees more opportunities coming his way:
"He's ready. In my opinion, I think he has had the most production on special teams as far as his opportunities. He's another young man chomping at the bit, and he will definitely. I see him getting more opportunities moving forward."
As the Steelers have some work to do on defense, it will be interesting to see how the seventh-round pick continues to develop and take on a bigger role in the secondary.
Rookie to watch in Week 5: Jalon Daniels, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With the Buccaneers traveling to Dallas looking for their first win of the season, the spotlight will be on rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels.
The undrafted rookie free agent completed 19 of 27 passes for 148 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in his NFL debut as a starter.
Tampa Bay only lost 17-14 but will need a better performance from the rookie to go into Dallas and get a win.
With how unpredictable Thursday Night Football games can be, can Daniels put together a rookie performance to help the Bucs get their first win? If he can, he will set the tone for rookie performances in Week 5.
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