2025 NFL preseason Week 1: Takeaways on new players

rewrite this content and keep HTML tags NFL NationAug 8, 2025, 11:05 PM ETCloseNFL Nation is made up of 32 team-specific reporters who cover the NFL year-round across ESPN.com, ESPN television shows, ESPN Radio, ESPN+ and social media platforms. It was established ahead of the 2013 season.The 2025 NFL preseason kicked off Thursday and continued Friday with several rookies playing their first snaps.Week 1 of preseason games serves as a first look into the new players on each team, whether they are rookies or offseason acquisitions. To keep you updated on how players fared in their first game action, our NFL Nation reporters summarize the top debuts below.Quick links:Full schedule | Where to watch | Depth chartsFantasy football draft guide | Sign up to playFridayBrowns: Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders shined as he got the start in Cleveland’s preseason opener, throwing a pair of first-half touchdowns. Sanders has been QB4 in Cleveland’s quarterback competition but got the start because of injuries to Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel. In about three quarters of action, Sanders showed the pinpoint accuracy and poise that led many to believe he was a top quarterback in the 2025 NFL draft before falling to the fifth round.It was also a strong debut for two other members of the Browns’ rookie class, linebacker Carson Schwesinger and defensive tackle Mason Graham. Schwesinger, a second-round pick, led the Browns with six tackles in the first half. And Graham, the No. 5 pick in the draft, also had a quarterback pressure in a couple of drives. — Daniel OyefusiNext game: at Philadelphia Eagles (1 p.m. ET, Aug. 16)Panthers: It was an underwhelming day for the class overall. First-round pick Tetairoa McMillan had a great over-the-shoulder catch of a Bryce Young pass for 30 yards. But he finished with only two catches on five targets, and should have had a touchdown catch but ran a bad route. Sixth-round pick Jimmy Horn Jr. caught four of five targets, but for only 15 yards. Edge rushers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen combined for only one sack (Scourton) — Umanmielen also lost containment on a Sanders scramble — so plenty of room for improvement there. — David NewtonNext game: at Houston Texans (1 p.m. ET, Aug. 16)play0:16Bryce Young connects with first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan for 29 yardsBryce Young hits Tetairoa McMillan on a short right pass to the Cleveland 44.Note: The preseason game between the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons was suspended with 6:19 left in the fourth quarter after Lions safety Morice Norris left the field in an ambulance after sustaining an injury after a collision with a Falcons player. The Lions said he was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation, but was talking and moving.Lions: Rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa scored his first NFL preseason touchdown off an 11-yard pass from backup QB Kyle Allen. TeSlaa, a third-round pick out of Arkansas, gave Detroit a 7-3 lead in the second quarter. TeSlaa, a Michigan native and lifelong Lions fan, ended with two catches for 18 yards. He has continued to make plays through training camp and preseason action. In practice, TeSlaa has earned some first-team reps with the offense. Lions rookies DL Tyleik Williams and OL Tate Ratledge also made their preseason debuts after being held out of the Hall of Fame Game versus the Chargers last week. The most underwhelming performance of the night was from third-year QB Hendon Hooker, who started for Detroit and fumbled twice in the first half. He went 7-10 with 38 passing yards. — Eric WoodyardNext game: vs. Miami Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, Aug. 16)Falcons: If the Falcons were to find a trade partner for quarterback Kirk Cousins, they might be comfortable with Easton Stick as Michael Penix Jr.’s backup. Stick, a free agent signing from the Los Angeles Chargers, was 15-of-18 passing for 149 yards and a touchdown. Stick’s 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chris Blair put the Falcons ahead 10-7 with :34 left in the first half.Atlanta’s rookies were relatively quiet. No. 26 pick James Pearce Jr. was often double-teamed on the edge. No. 15 pick Jalon Walker, an edge rusher, and third-round pick safety Xavier Watts had one tackle apiece. Fourth-round pick cornerback Billy Bowman Jr. had a great open-field tackle in punt coverage. Seventh-round pick Jack Nelson had some struggles at right tackle. — Marc RaimondiNext game: vs. Tennessee Titans (7 p.m. ET, Friday)play0:34TreVeyon Henderson has a 100-yard house call on the opening kickoffPatriots rookie TreVeyon Henderson takes the opening kickoff back for a touchdown.Patriots: Second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson made an immediate impact, returning the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Commanders backups. When the Patriots selected Henderson 38th out of Ohio State, they touted his speed and big-play ability — both as a running back and returner — which is the type of juice the team has been lacking in recent seasons. Henderson added one carry for 18 yards and caught three passes for 12 yards. He is projected to complement starter Rhamondre Stevenson and No. 3 option Antonio Gibson.Cornerback DJ James, a 2024 sixth-round pick of the Seahawks who spent last year on the Patriots’ practice squad, also had a notable performance with an INT. That reflects how he has had a strong training camp in which he has consistently been around the football. — Mike ReissNext game: at Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m. ET, Aug. 16)Commanders: Rookie corner Trey Amos played two series and continued his strong summer. He defended a fade ball well and came up on the run one time to make a stop for no yards. Meanwhile, first-round pick Josh Conerly Jr. started at right tackle and played 22 snaps. He continues to look more comfortable on the right side. He was solid on the edge, with one hiccup vs. a stunt, and blocked well in space. Seventh-round pick running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt finished with only 24 yards on seven carries, but he typically gained more than what was available because of his sharp cuts and vision. — John KeimNext game: vs Cincinnati Bengals (8 p.m. ET, Aug. 18)ThursdaySeahawks: One play from Jalen Milroe ‘s NFL debut showed exactly how he can help the Seahawks’ offense this season even as their third QB. Milroe gained 27 yards on a zone-read keeper, flashing the impressive running ability that Seattle plans to take advantage of on occasion via specialty packages. He ran three times for 38 yards and also fared well with his arm, completing 6 of 10 attempts for 61 yards. He led one TD drive in five possessions and was sacked on Seattle’s final drive.Rookie fifth-round pick Tory Horton continued to make his case to beat out Marquez Valdes-Scantling for the No. 3 receiver role. With Valdes-Scantling getting the night off along with several other veterans, Horton caught three passes for 31 yards and a touchdown pass from Drew Lock in the first half. — Brady HendersonNext game: vs. Chiefs, 10 p.m. ET, Friday, Aug. 15Raiders: Ashton Jeanty’s preseason debut was underwhelming. On three carries, the Heisman Trophy finalist totaled minus-1 yards. His longest carry was for three yards. But a few plays later, Jeanty was stopped for a 4-yard loss.The Raiders’ offensive line didn’t provide much support for Jeanty and the run game as a whole. Las Vegas averaged 2.6 yards on nine carries in the first half.Jamal Adams — who signed last month — looked solid at weak-side linebacker, as he was active around the line of scrimmage. In 14 defensive snaps, Adams had three tackles, including two run stuffs. On third and long in the second quarter, Adams burst up the middle before tackling Seattle running back Damien Martinez. — Ryan McFaddenNext game: vs. 49ers, 4 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 16play0:27Anthony Richardson exits preseason game with finger injuryColts QB Anthony Richardson exits in the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens because of a finger injury after being sacked by David Ojabo.Ravens: Rookie sixth-round pick LaJohntay Wester provided much-needed juice to the Ravens’ punt return game when he scored on an 87-yard runback in the first quarter.Wester, whose college coach was Deion Sanders at Colorado, flashed some “Prime Time” elusiveness when he darted around three would-be Colts tacklers in the middle of the field before racing down the right sideline.Baltimore’s punt return game was an issue last season. The Ravens used four punt returners who averaged 9.7 yards, which ranked 16th in the NFL, and failed to break a punt return longer than 22 yards. Wester also had team highs with two catches for 41 yards with a long of 30..@la_wester TO THE HOUSETune in on WBAL! pic.twitter.com/kNQd43xeDs— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 7, 2025 Rookie kicker Tyler Loop hooked a 46-yard field goal attempt wide left in his first attempt, but he nailed a 52-yarder in the fourth quarter. Loop is the only kicker on the roster, but coach John Harbaugh said Loop has to prove himself in the preseason. In training camp, Loop is 58-of-62 (93.5%). — Jamison HensleyNext game: at Cowboys, 7 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 16Colts: Tight end Tyler Warren, the No. 14 pick in this year’s draft, made his anticipated debut and wasted little time making an impact. Warren caught all three passes on which he was targeted, generating 40 receiving yards in the process. On his longest play, a 23-yard reception from Daniel Jones on a slant route, Warren showed the breadth of his talent, catching the ball cleanly and running 14 more yards after the catch.Elsewhere, the Colts got a long look at new kicker Spencer Shrader, who had a big workload with four first-half field-goal attempts. He connected from 53, 33 and 39 yards and missed from 52. Shrader, who kicked for three teams as a rookie last season, is replacing veteran kicker Matt Gay, whom the Colts released earlier this year. — Stephen HolderNext game: vs. Packers, 1 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 16Eagles: Running back AJ Dillon had an encouraging debut, rushing five times for 27 yards (5.4 average) and catching three passes for 27 yards. He showed some wiggle with a jump cut on a 9-yard gain and moved the pile when he lowered his shoulder. It was a good start after sitting out all of last season because of a neck injury.Undrafted rookie receiver Darius Cooper (6 catches, 82 yards, 1 TD) raised his profile. He regularly separated from defenders with sharp routes and good burst.First-round pick linebacker Jihaad Campbell nearly came up with an interception, and fourth-round defensive tackle Ty Robinson registered two pressures, a sack and demonstrated good awareness by sniffing out a screen and taking that option away from the quarterback. — Tim McManusNext game: vs. Browns, 1 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 16Bengals: Defensive end Shemar Stewart took a while to get onto the field because of contractual issues, but the first-round pick out of Texas A&M has been as advertised. He was disruptive on a couple of his 18 defensive snaps against the Eagles.He had a 3-yard tackle for loss on a run play. Then on a play-action bootleg, Stewart did a good job pursuing Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee and nearly forcing an interception.Rookie left guard Dylan Fairchild, a third-round pick and projected starter, had a very nondescript outing, which is a very good thing for an offensive lineman. Right guard Lucas Patrick, who is battling for a starting spot, had a couple of miscues on the opening drive, including a costly penalty. — Ben BabyNext game: at Commanders, 8 p.m. ET, Monday, Aug. 18Saturday’s gamesNew York Giants at Buffalo Bills: 1 p.m. ET (NFL Network)Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings: 4 p.m. ET (NFL Network)Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams: 7 p.m. ETPittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars: 7 p.m. ETTennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 7:30 p.m. ETNew York Jets at Green Bay Packers: 8 p.m. ET (NFL Network)Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals: 8 p.m. ETDenver Broncos at San Francisco 49ers: 8:30 p.m. ETSunday’s gamesMiami Dolphins at Chicago Bears: 1 p.m. ET (NFL Network)New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Chargers: 4 p.m. ET (NFL Network)

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