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Seahawks rookie Tory Horton makes NFL history with hot start & punt return TD vs. Saints

Seattle Seahawks' surprising rookie Tory Horton is only the third player in NFL history with two receiving scores and a return TD in the first three games of their career.

Richie Whitt

Seahawks receiver Tory Horton (15) celebrates after scoring a 95 yard punt return for a touchdown against the Saints
Seahawks receiver Tory Horton (15) celebrates after scoring a 95 yard punt return for a touchdown against the Saints / Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
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Seattle Seahawks' rookie receiver Tory Horton isn't making the 12s forget about the likes of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett just yet. Yet.

During an expected 44-13 blowout of the lowly New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon at Lumen Field, the fifth-round rookie dazzled, dominated and etched his name into the NFL record books. Horton had an eye-popping 95-yard punt return in the first quarter - the longest in Seahawks' franchise history - and in the second caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Sam Darnold to push the lead to 28-3.

MORE: Seahawks rookie Tory Horton turns the clock back to classic Tyler Lockett touchdown

Added to his touchdown catch in Week 2 in Pittsburgh, the Colorado State rookie became only the third player in NFL history to have multiple touchdown catches and a return for a score through the first three games of their career. The other two: Tim Brown in 1988 and former Seahawk Percy Harvin in 2009.

The Seahawks had no idea they were getting a dual-threat superstar of a bargain last April in the NFL Draft. But Horton turned heads early in training camp and is now already a trusted target of Darnold.

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The blowout win was welcomed by head coach Mike Macdonald, in light of the Seahawks being on a short week in advance of Thursday night's NFC West game at the Arizona Cardinals.

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Horton's punt return was the first by a Seahawks' player since Lockett in 2015.

Seahawks receiver Tory Horton (15) catches a touchdown against the Saints at Lumen Field
Seahawks receiver Tory Horton (15) catches a touchdown against the Saints at Lumen Field / Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

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Richie Whitt
RICHIE WHITT

Richie Whitt has been a sports media fixture in Dallas-Fort Worth since graduating from UT-Arlington in 1986. His career is highlighted by successful stints in print (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), TV (NBC5) and radio (105.3 The Fan). During his almost 40-year tenure, he's blabbed and blogged on events ranging from Super Bowls to NBA Finals to World Series to Stanley Cups to Olympics to Wimbledons to World Cups. Whitt has been covering the NFL since 1989, and in 1993 authored The 'Boys Are Back, a book chronicling the Dallas Cowboys' run to Super Bowl XXVII.