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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tell a non-quarterback he’s part of the game plan to throw a pass, or that he’ll be catching a pass from someone other than the QB, and the fun is just getting started.
“For us, it’s a backyard play,” veteran New England Patriots receiver Nelson Agholor said. “It brings us back to our grass roots — just throwing it around. We enjoy it.”
Such fun is happening more across the NFL over the past several seasons, with Agholor and his Patriots calling them as much as anyone else.
Patriots receiver Jakobi Meyers is 2-of-2 for 45 yards this season, and fellow receiver Kendrick Bourne has thrown a 25-yard TD pass — to Agholor.
Meyers, of course, tossed two touchdown passes in the 2020 season, and former Patriots receiver Julian Edelman retired with a most impressive passing stat line: 7-of-8 for 179 yards, two TDs and a 158.3 rating.
But the trend goes beyond the Patriots.
Through Week 12 of the NFL season, non-quarterbacks have attempted 26 passes this season, completing 13, and are on pace to attempt 37 passes, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
In 2020, non-QBs attempted 44 passes. But the year before that they attempted 33 passes, and the year before that it was 31.
Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson is 2-for-3 for 35 yards this season.
“I really get excited. I try not to show it too much [but] I love every time that I throw the ball,” he said. “I just like to be in the mix, especially with a tricky play. I definitely remember the Little League days of me playing quarterback, running around, throwing it on the run, so it definitely brings me back to that.”
Dallas Cowboys receiver Cedrick Wilson leads all non-QBs in passing yardage this season, going 2-for-2 for 57 yards. He credits offensive coordinator Kellen Moore for his success.
“I feel like when Kellen draws up the plays he, I think, knows it’s going to be open. He doesn’t really give me too hard of a decision,” Wilson said. As for the decision to…
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Source : espn
