NFL Rookie Report: Bears’ Luther Burden and Giants’ Cam Skattebo shine in Week 3

We’re only a month into the NFL season, but rookies are already shaping team storylines across the league. Some are thriving as Day 2 or Day 3 picks, while others taken at the top of the draft are struggling to find their footing. This week’s Rookie Report highlights both ends of that spectrum.

Bright spot in New York

There haven’t been many positives in New York this season, especially on offense with the team averaging just 17 points per game. But rookie running back Cam Skattebo has been a clear exception. In his latest outing against the Kansas City Chiefs, he set personal bests with 60 rushing yards and 61 receiving yards, leading the team in both categories.

The skillset that made him a force at Arizona State translated once again. Known for his powerful lower body, Skattebo broke 102 tackles in his final college season, and he carried that same physical edge into this game. Against the Chiefs, he forced five missed tackles and looked eager to initiate contact, setting a tone in the Giants’ backfield.

What makes him especially valuable is his versatility. Leading the team in both rushing and receiving is a testament to his all-around game, but it also highlights how thin the Giants are in the passing attack. Skattebo’s soft hands and ability to punish defensive backs after the catch make him a matchup problem, just as he was in college, when he became the first Big 12 player to post at least 1,500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a single season.

Skattebo has already proven he belongs, and he looks like a key piece for the Giants to build around moving forward.

Texans stagnant offense 

One of the biggest disappointments in the NFL this season has been the Houston Texans. After winning the AFC South two years in a row, they now sit at 0-3. The main culprit is their offense, which ranks last in the league at just 12.7 points per game and averages only 172 passing yards despite having C.J. Stroud under center.

A major factor in the passing game’s struggles has been the lack of production from their rookie wide receivers. With their top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft at No. 34 overall, the Texans selected Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins. So far, he has only five catches on the season, with just two targets and fewer than 30 snaps in each of his last two games.

Third-round pick Jaylin Noel has been even quieter. He has only two receptions for 11 yards and played just nine offensive snaps in Houston’s most recent game.

The struggles don’t stop at wide receiver. Offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery, another second-round pick, has had a rough start. In three games, he has already allowed 11 pressures and three sacks.

If Houston wants to become a legitimate scoring threat again, these three top-90 draft picks will need to step up and deliver on the expectations that came with their selections.

Burden finally makes an impact

Chicago’s second-round pick Luther Burden had a quiet start to his rookie season, managing just two receiving yards across his first two games. That changed in Week 3. Burden broke out with three catches for 101 yards, earning a 92.4 grade from Pro Football Focus, the highest among all NFL receivers for the week.

His signature moment came in the first quarter on a 65-yard flea flicker, which also marked the first touchdown of his NFL career. On his other two receptions, he flashed the quickness and agility that make him a tough matchup in the slot.

If Burden can sustain this level of production, Chicago suddenly has a dangerous young duo at wide receiver with him and Rome Odunze. Add in Caleb Williams, who looked every bit like a franchise quarterback against the Cowboys, and Bears fans have real reason to believe the future is bright.

Second round reach

In my 2025 NFL Draft recap, I listed the Denver Broncos as one of the teams with the weakest draft classes. I questioned their selections of running back RJ Harvey, wide receiver Pat Bryant, and defensive end Sai’vion Jones. None of them have made much of an impact so far in their NFL careers.

The biggest reach of the group was Harvey, Denver’s highest selection. I graded him as a sixth-round prospect heading into the draft, yet the Broncos took him 60th overall. His production has been minimal. In each of his first three games, he’s had fewer than 10 touches, and over his last two outings he’s totaled just 10 rushing yards with an average of under 1.5 yards per carry. As a receiver, he’s contributed only five catches.

The lone bright spot has been his work as a kick returner, but that’s hardly the kind of value Denver expected from a second-round pick. Right now, it’s hard not to view Harvey as a significant miss for the Broncos’ front office.

Egbuka continues to impress

Tampa Bay rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has been one of the most impressive first-year players in the league. He leads the Buccaneers with 181 receiving yards and became the first rookie in franchise history to record three touchdown catches in his first two games.

His latest standout performance came against the New York Jets, where he hauled in six passes for 85 yards. The highlight of the day was a one-handed grab in the second quarter, a play that showed his toughness and body control. Egbuka also continues to shine as a route runner, using crisp breaks to consistently create separation.

The only concern is his health. Injuries were a recurring issue during his time at Ohio State, and he is already dealing with hip and groin problems this season. If he can stay on the field, though, he is a difference-maker for Tampa Bay’s offense.

Limited impact on both offense and defense

While Emeka Egbuka and Carolina’s Tetairoa McMillan have produced at a high level, another top-20 receiver has struggled. Travis Hunter, drafted second overall by the Jaguars after they gave up next year’s first-round pick to move up, has provided very little production so far.

As a receiver, Hunter has just 10 catches for 76 yards on the season, with his numbers dropping each week. Against the Texans, he managed only one reception and played just 37 snaps, the lowest total of his young NFL career.

On defense, he is seeing more action but still only in a part-time role. Through three weeks, he has been on the field for 47 percent of Jacksonville’s defensive snaps, with just one pass deflection to show for it. Opposing quarterbacks have completed 83 percent of their passes when throwing in his direction.

This reinforces the point I have made for months: if the Jaguars insist on playing Hunter both ways, he will likely remain average at each. If they allow him to focus on a single position, he still has the potential to develop into a high-level NFL starter.