Cleveland Browns receiver KC Concepcion Jr. earned a Week 7 Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week nomination Tuesday, October 27, according to Kelsey Russo's official team announcement, following his breakout performance against Tennessee.

Concepcion posted career highs of eight catches and 129 receiving yards, adding 23 rushing yards on three carries in Sunday's game, per Russo's October 25 report. For Cleveland, it puts a league spotlight on a receiver who contributed through the air and on the ground.

Fan voting is open through @NFL on Instagram or X and closes Thursday, October 29, at 11 a.m. ET, according to the nomination announcement. The winner will be announced Thursday on those channels.

The other nominees are Jets receiver Omar Cooper, Dolphins receiver Caleb Douglas and Falcons linebacker Kendal Daniels, the announcement says. Concepcion's case rests on a performance that combined receiving volume with a useful late rushing contribution.

The production came in a 27-24 win that left the Browns at 5-2 and atop the AFC North, according to Brian D'Aguanno's October 26 team report. Concepcion totaled 152 scrimmage yards, with all 129 receiving yards coming before halftime.

Russo's game report places that receiving total eighth in a single game among Browns rookies. Concepcion also became Cleveland's first rookie wide receiver with a 100-yard receiving game since Corey Coleman in 2016. The nomination follows a performance with some franchise significance.

"I enter every week expecting to have a game like this," Concepcion said in Russo's report. That confidence gives Cleveland an encouraging starting point; the next challenge is turning this performance into a standard he can keep approaching.

Russo describes a 23-yard screen on third-and-7 and a 32-yard reception that helped set up a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Concepcion's 18-yard run helped set up Deshaun Watson's rushing touchdown.

Head coach Todd Monken noted that part of his role in the same report: "We still used him to run the ball a little bit," he said. The rushing contribution gave Concepcion another way to influence the game after his receiving production.

The nomination announcement credits Concepcion with 315 receiving yards this season, third among rookies. His rushing total reached 34 yards on nine carries, according to Cleveland's October 26 update, which identifies the pivotal 18-yard run as a jet sweep.

Cleveland's October 27 unofficial Week 8 depth chart lists Concepcion first at his receiver position and at punt returner. Those listings give concrete context to his place in the team's plans before Pittsburgh.

For this week's offensive plan, the useful takeaway is the range of opportunities. The screen offered a way to gain yards without a downfield throw, while the jet sweep supplied another route to a meaningful touch. Cleveland should look for situations where those options fit the possession, rather than chase a duplicate yardage total.

The season question is whether Concepcion can make that versatility dependable. His rookie receiving rank gives the breakout a broader foundation, while the smaller rushing workload suggests the ground touches can remain a complement. Steady contributions in both areas would give Cleveland more choices as games develop.

The next test is at Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, November 1, at 1 p.m. ET, according to the Week 8 announcement. First comes Thursday's award announcement, after fan voting closes that morning. Concepcion has earned a place on the ballot; the result is still ahead.

Image: AI-generated image.