Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan remains the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, but New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough at least gives voters something to think about.
The Saints have won three straight, with Shoough throwing for 300-plus yards for the first time in his career in Sunday’s 29-6 demolition of the New York Jets. His play, spearheading a team that looked lost in the wilderness early in the season, has given him a chance to earn OROY over the past two weeks.
“It’s obviously a great accomplishment,” Shough said Sunday when asked about the postseason accolades, via The Times-Picayune . “But I think for us it’s achievable by finishing the season the right way by winning next week and then the week after that. So that’s all I’m focused on right now. And we’ll go from there.”
McMillan, who has 924 yards, 65 catches and seven touchdowns for the NFC South-ranked Panthers, remains the front-runner for OROY, but the fact that Shough is even in the conversation is indicative of the Saints’ strong play.
In seven starts, Shoough has shown arm skills, impressive playmaking when things break down, and incremental improvement each week. That’s enough to silence chatter in the Bayou that the Saints need to take another swing at the QB position in the offseason.
“I think it’s awesome,” coach Kellen Moore said of Shoough’s chance to earn the award. “Tyler has played really good football. Our team has played a lot better football as the season has gone on, so those things definitely don’t happen without the guys around him and everybody stepping up and playing better.”
“Tyler really gave us a positive spark, a certain consistency. … I love where he’s at.”