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C.J. Stroud edges Lions' Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs for Rookie of the Year

dave birkett, detroit free press
·2 min read
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LAS VEGAS — Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year at the NFL Honors show Thursday, beating out two Detroit Lions for the award.

Stroud, who threw 23 touchdown passes and five interceptions to lead the Texans to a surprising playoff berth this season, earned 48 of a possible 50 first-place votes.

Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua finished second, earning the other two first-place votes, followed by Lions tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson also was a finalist for the award.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta makes a catch at warms up before the NFC championship game against San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta makes a catch at warms up before the NFC championship game against San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.

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LaPorta broke Keith Jackson's 35-year-old rookie record for most receptions by a tight end, and teamed with Gibbs to give the Lions two of the most explosive offensive players in this year's rookie class.

A second-round pick out of Iowa, LaPorta caught 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. Jackson is the only other tight end to top 75 receptions in his rookie season, catching 81 balls in 1988.

Gibbs, the No. 12 pick of last year's draft, had 1,261 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns this season. He finished second on the team in rushing (945 yards) while splitting carries with David Montgomery.

The Lions finished top-five in most offensive categories this season and won 12 games and reached the NFC championship game for the first time since 1991.

Barry Sanders was the last Lion to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, in 1989. Ndamukong Suh won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2010, and Aidan Hutchinson was runner-up to Sauce Gardner for Defensive Rookie of the Year last season.

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Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs runs for a touchdown against the 49ers during the first half of the NFC championship game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.
Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs runs for a touchdown against the 49ers during the first half of the NFC championship game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.

Stroud, the No. 2 pick in the draft, threw for 4,108 yards in 15 starts for a Texans team that won the AFC South and a playoff game one season after going 3-13-1.

Nacua, a fourth-round pick, set new rookie records for receiving yards (1,486) and catches (105).

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: C.J. Stroud edges Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs for Rookie of the Year