Michael Mayer Named Rookie of the Week Candidate

Early in his career, Las Vegas Raiders rookie tight end Michael Mayer is garnering attention from around the rest of the National Football League.

Following his 75-yard receiving performance against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Mayer was named a candidate for the Pepsi Rookie of the Week for Week 6, which the NFL revealed Tuesday.

The other candidates for the award include Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers, Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Byron Young, Indianapolis Colts cornerback Julius (JuJu) Brents and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon.

Stroud threw 199 yards and two touchdowns in Houston's 20-13 win over the New Orleans Saints.

Flowers totaled 50 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Ravens' 24-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans in London.

Young finished with six combined tackles, two quarterback hits, a sack and a forced fumble in the Rams' 26-9 conquering of the Arizona Cardinals.

Brents wound up with seven combined tackles, two passes defensed, and an interception in the Colts' 37-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Lastly, Witherspoon recorded four solo tackles and three passes defensed in Seattle's 17-13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Mayer has only trended upward as the season has gone on, and on Sunday, he recorded a season-high five receptions, his longest having been for 32 yards.

"Mike did a lot of things in the passing game, running game," Raiders Offensive Coordinator Mick Lombardi said when he addressed the media on Tuesday. "Like we discussed in previous weeks, his role is growing, his production's growing, and I've seen a player who has gained a little bit of confidence from the production and just feels it himself. He feels himself kind of giving some production in terms of statistics, but like I told you guys before, I think he felt some production from his contribution in the running game and as a pass blocker, and those type of things. Now, it's kind of just translated into his production on the field in terms of statistics."

You can vote for your pick to win the award here.

The Silver and Black will head on the road to take on the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 1:05 p.m. EDT/10:05 a.m. PDT.

Please tell us your thoughts when you like our Facebook Page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.