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The first week of the 2026 NFL preseason kicked off Thursday, giving us our first look at rookies and players making debuts with new teams. It continued with three games Friday.
How did players in new uniforms perform? Who stood out? Which first-year players showed promise?
Our NFL Nation reporters picked out what you need to know about top debuts and more as the NFL returns.
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Vikings: New quarterback Kyler Murray led the Vikings to a field goal on his only drive of the game. He finished with two completions on three attempts for 10 yards and no scrambles in a nine-play debut that seemed designed mostly to emphasize the Vikings’ run game. Murray’s best throw came on an 8-yard out route to receiver Jordan Addison to convert a third down.
Of note, rookie running back Demond Claiborne — a sixth-round draft pick — got an extended look with 12 carries on 12 total snaps. He failed in two attempts to score from the 1-yard line but had already put his quick burst on display during runs of 7 and 9 yards earlier in the game.
The Vikings lost new linebacker/safety Jamal Adams in the second quarter, after he played 11 snaps and produced one tackle for loss. Adams was carted off the sideline with an unspecified injury, and coach Kevin O’Connell stated at halftime: “We’re going to miss him.” — Kevin Seifert
Next game: vs. Baltimore Ravens (Aug. 22, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN Unlimited)
Giants: Odell Beckham Jr. made his return to MetLife Stadium in a Giants uniform for the first time in almost eight years. He caught a pair of passes for 6 yards and on several others was open downfield but didn’t get the ball. The performance verified what the Giants have seen from him most of the summer. “He’s had a good camp,” general manager Joe Schoen stated.
“I’m impressed with how he’s looked. He can still get open.”
The Giants’ rookies also had their moments:
Linebacker Arvell Reese, the No. 5 pick, flew through the line of scrimmage and stuffed running back Jordan Mason for a 1-yard loss on the third play of the game.
Third-round pick Malachi Fields caught a TD pass from Jaxson Dart over a defender and finished with three catches for 34 yards.
First-round OL Francis Mauigoa didn’t stand out at first glance, which is good for a rookie lineman. — Jordan Raanan
Next game: at Miami Dolphins (Aug. 22, 4 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
Bears: The Bears’ run defense was solid in the preseason opener, highlighted by a third-down stop from free agent linebacker Devin Bush. Two Day 3 draft picks — cornerback Malik Muhammad and defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg — did the most with their reps. Muhammad started at nickel and recorded the second-most tackles (five) on the defense while Van den Berg notched three quarterback hits and a run stuff. Beanie Bishop Jr. was one of nine defensive backs who worked out for the Bears last week in the wake of so many injuries in the secondary. He intercepted both Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel.
The best performances on offense came from wide receiver Kaden Davis and running back Salvon Ahmed. Davis had already made one of the best catches in training camp and added to his impressive offseason with a 41-yard reception. On Ahmed’s 49-yard catch-and-run touchdown, it was Davis who sped in stride to lay down one final block to clear a path for the running back to reach the end zone. — Courtney Cronin
Next game: at Cincinnati Bengals (Aug. 22, 7 p.m. ET)
Browns: The team couldn’t have asked for a better preseason debut from its top picks on offense. Left tackle Spencer Fano played the entire first half and allowed two pressures but generally held up. Wide receiver Denzel Boston had one catch, but it moved the chains on a scoring possession.
Wideout KC Concepcion turned heads the most, showcasing his versatility in the first half. Concepcion returned a punt 31 yards, caught three passes for 27 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown on a 14-yard jet sweep. — Daniel Oysefusi
Next game: vs. Buffalo Bills (Aug. 22, 1 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
Bills: DJ Moore’s first game with the Bills accomplished what the team was looking for from Josh Allen’s new No. 1 receiver. He caught three passes (four targets) for 61 yards on 10 snaps, including a 32-yard catch-and-run where 29 yards came after the catch. Moore did have his right leg looked at by trainers briefly but remained on the sideline, and the first-team offense did not return to the field.
Other highlights included camp riser UDFA CB Kani Walker’s interception on a pass that went right to him from QB Kyle Trask, second-round edge rusher TJ Parker’s sack, free agent edge rusher Mike Danna’s two sacks and seventh-rounder Tommy Doman Jr. showing his lead in the punting competition and holding for all four of Tyler Bass’ field goal (made three) and point-after attempts (2-for-2). — Alaina Getzenberg
Next game: at Cleveland Browns (Aug. 21, 1 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
Panthers: Several free agent additions made their debuts. Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips made an immediate impact with a sack and back-to-back pressures on the opening drive, forcing Buffalo to settle for a field goal. Inside linebacker Devin Lloyd had an excellent pursuit to running back James Cook III for a tackle for loss to begin the second series. Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett completed 16 of 19 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown.
First-round pick Monroe Freeling looked sturdy in protection at right tackle in nine snaps. Undrafted defensive lineman Aaron Hall and returning outside linebacker Cam Gill flashed as pass rushers. Fifth-round safety Zakee Wheatley continued to do well as an open-field tackler and showed off his upside as a blitzer. — Mike Kaye
Next game: at Jacksonville Jaguars (Aug. 21, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Unlimited)
Los Angeles Rams at Kansas City Chiefs (4 p.m. ET)
Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints (4 p.m. ET)
Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens (7 p.m. ET)
Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks (8 p.m. ET)
Buccaneers: As he has done throughout camp, undrafted free agent rookie cornerback Ayden Garnes made the most of his moment, picking off Bailey Zappe’s pass and returning it 47 yards for a touchdown. Second-round draft pick Josiah Trotter recorded two tackles. Outside linebacker David Walker, a 2025 fourth-round draft pick who missed all preseason last year because of a torn ACL, registered two quarterback pressures.
Third-round pick Ted Hurst III hauled in two catches despite poor quarterback play from Connor Bazelak; Jalon Daniels showed far better command of the offense. Tight end Bauer Sharp went 4-of-5 on targets, and wide receiver Dean Patterson went 5-of-7.
First-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. will make his debut next week. — Jenna Laine
Next game: vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Aug. 22, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Jets: Fourth-round QB Cade Klubnik was the surprise starter after Geno Smith (ankle) was ruled out as a precaution. Klubnik strengthened his case for the No. 2 job, leading the starting offense to a field goal and touchdown in his only two series — a curiously short outing. Coach Aaron Glenn arguably should have let the former Clemson star play the entire half. Facing the Bucs’ backups, Klubnik (5-for-7, 56 yards) didn’t make any big mistakes and kept the chains moving, hitting Garrett Wilson for two third-down conversions.
It was a nondescript debut for edge rusher David Bailey, the No. 2 pick. Playing with the starters, he registered one tackle and one QB pressure in eight snaps, getting double-teamed on three of his six pass rushes.
First-round wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. got into the open field for a 26-yard reception while playing with the backups. He was leapfrogged on the depth chart by Isaiah Williams. It was a quiet night for the veteran newcomers, most of whom received limited action. — Rich Cimini
Next game: at Pittsburgh Steelers (Aug. 21, 7 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
Broncos: On a team that returns 20 of 22 starters from the AFC Championship Game, there are not a lot of roster spots in play, but in Denver’s win over the Atlanta Falcons, rookie fourth-round RB Jonah Coleman showed off his decisive running style with 24 yards on four carries. He also displayed the physicality the Broncos wanted to see while playing with the starters in the first half.
Undrafted rookie wide receiver Cameron Ross, who has flashed athleticism in camp, had a 24-yard carry in the first half when the first- and second-team offense was on the field, a sign that he has already gotten the coaches’ attention. Undrafted cornerback Sam Fresch prevented what would have been a Falcons touchdown when he knocked away a pass by Jack Strand with 1:54 to play in the game. — Jeff Legwold
Next game: vs. Green Bay Packers (Aug. 21, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Falcons: All eyes were on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in his first start of any kind with the Atlanta Falcons. It was not an auspicious beginning.
Tagovailoa looked uncomfortable and didn’t get much help from his offensive line. He completed 3 of 5 passes for 22 yards. All four targets went to tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., a result fantasy football enthusiasts might find interesting.
It didn’t get much better for the Falcons once Tagovailoa left the game. Veteran quarterback Cooper Rush, a recent signee, was 7-of-19 for 62 yards and two interceptions, including a 96-yard pick-six by Jahdae Barron. — Marc Raimondi
Next game: at Indianapolis Colts (Aug. 22, 1 p.m. ET)
Commanders: Linebacker Sonny Styles played in the first series, a 14-play Miami touchdown drive. Styles wasn’t much of a factor, though he wore the green dot and called the plays. He finished with three tackles but looked like a rookie playing his first game, still getting comfortable.
A few rookies had strong games. Undrafted free agent running back Robert Henry Jr. showed juice on his runs and scored from 22 yards out. He finished with 75 yards on 12 runs. Henry hit the holes fast and used good vision to knife through narrow openings. Center Matt Gulbin showed some power inside in the second quarter. Third-round receiver Antonio Williams caught one pass for 16 yards and didn’t play until the third quarter. Running back Kaytron Allen doesn’t have Henry’s burst but managed 85 yards on 23 carries and a 1-yard touchdown. — John Keim
Next game: at Detroit Lions (Aug. 22, noon ET)
Dolphins: Wide receiver Caleb Douglas shot up the depth chart during the Dolphins’ first two weeks of training camp and showed why in his only snaps of the game. On third-and-5, quarterback Malik Willis hit Douglas on a slot fade. The rookie shook off defensive pass interference, tipped the ball to himself with one hand and corralled it in for a 28-yard reception.
Second-round rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez finished with a tackle and a pressure in 13 snaps, and defensive end Max Llewellyn recorded half a sack.
Willis, who signed a three-year deal with the Dolphins this offseason, was sharp in his lone series of the game — a 14-play, 93-yard touchdown drive that spanned more than seven minutes. He completed 4 of 5 passes for 43 yards, adding 9 more yards on the ground. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: vs. New York Giants (Aug. 22, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Cardinals: No. 3 draft pick Jeremiyah Love showcased his quick feet and power running during his time on the field Thursday night. It resulted in 11 carries for 58 yards, an average of 5.3 yards per carry. He showcased his ability to find holes and the strength to take on hits. He also had three catches for 14 yards with a long of 7 yards.
Second-round pick Chase Bisontis left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury and did not return. He went down holding the back of his left knee and was rolling in agony as he was attended to by trainers.
Wide receiver Reggie Virgil, Arizona’s fifth-round pick, made an impressive one-handed catch for a 24-yard gain. — Josh Weinfuss
Next game: vs. Dallas Cowboys (Aug. 22, 10 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
Raiders: The Raiders’ quarterback battle between Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza was on full display. Cousins played only the opening drive, which resulted in a touchdown. After he completed a 10-yard pass to Jack Bech and a 16-yard pass to Tre Tucker, he found tight end Michael Mayer for a 13-yard touchdown, which capped off a 10-play, 68-yard drive to begin the game. Cousins completed 5 of 6 passes for 50 yards.
As for the No. 1 pick, Mendoza, he showed off his resilience, a trait admired by the coaching staff. His first drive wasn’t great — he had two incompletions and the Raiders were forced to punt. His second was a different story. He completed a 19-yard pass to rookie wide receiver Malik Benson, fitting the ball through a tight window. Rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. then rushed for 53 yards before Mendoza zipped the ball over the middle to Bech for a 6-yard touchdown pass on third down.
His third drive resulted in a three-and-out. But his fourth and final drive of the evening ended with him putting the Raiders into field goal range. He finished the night completing 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards. Mendoza did struggle against pressure. He was pressured on 38.9% of dropbacks, going 2-for-6 with 11 yards and a 42.4 passer rating. He was sacked once. — Ryan McFadden
Next game: at Houston Texans (Aug. 20, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Steelers: Welcome to the NFL (kind of), rookies! The Steelers’ rookie class had a solid showing in its preseason debut behind quarterback Drew Allar, who led the team to three touchdowns in his first appearance.
The third-rounder’s first came on third-and-7 in the third quarter when he connected with fourth-round receiver Kaden Wetjen for a 74-yard catch-and-run. Two plays later, Allar kept the ball on a read-option and ran it into the end zone for a 3-yard score. Allar and Wetjen connected again midway through the fourth quarter, this time in the end zone on a 5-yard touchdown. Allar put a bow on the night with a third touchdown on a 4-yard pass to rookie FB Riley Nowakowski.
Playing with the first team, second-round wide receiver Germie Bernard also showed off his yards-after-catch ability with a 25-yard catch-and-run in the first half. Defensively, sixth-round defensive end Gabriel Rubio stood out with six tackles. — Brooke Pryor
Next game: vs. New York Jets (Aug. 21, 7 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
Packers: Rookie second-round pick Brandon Cisse looks comfortable as a starting cornerback. New defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon isn’t afraid to blitz. And veteran free agent receiver Skyy Moore looks like an upgrade as a punt returner (and he might also be able to help on offense). But perhaps more importantly, after some shaky practices, rookie kicker Trey Smack came through in a big way in this game. Officially, Smack made field goals of 37, 58 and 38 yards. He also nailed another 58-yarder, but a Steelers penalty gave the Packers a first down, so coach Matt LaFleur took the points off the board. First-year QB Kyle McCord (12-for-14, 102 yards) had a strong showing. — Rob Demovsky
Next game: at Denver Broncos (Aug. 21, 9 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
Bengals: Of all the newcomers who played in the preseason opener, a couple of rookies had very bright moments. DE Cashius Howell, the team’s second-round pick, took advantage of a slick ball and recovered a fumble on a botched handoff. And WR Colbie Young, the team’s fourth-round selection, had a couple of nice catches in the first half against the Lions. Howell has had a strong camp and had one QB pressure in his nine snaps Thursday, per NFL Next Gen Stats. — Ben Baby
Next game: vs. Chicago Bears (Aug. 22, 7 p.m. ET)
Lions: After the sudden retirement of veteran QB Teddy Bridgewater during training camp, all eyes turned to rookie Luke Altmyer, who got the start in his preseason debut.
Altmyer, an undrafted free agent out of Illinois, went 13-for-21 for 130 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in a solid performance.
The Lions also signed backup QB Joshua Dobbs to a one-year deal earlier this week, in the wake of Bridgewater’s retirement, as the backup returns for a second stint in Detroit. Dobbs entered the game in the second quarter, splitting snaps with Altmyer in the first half, and ended with 32 passing yards. He completed 4 of 8 attempts as the two compete for the QB2 spot behind Jared Goff.
Blake Miller, the 17th pick of the draft, also made his debut, starting at right tackle, where he got off to a strong start this preseason. — Eric Woodyard
Next game: vs. Washington Commanders (Aug. 22, noon ET)
Patriots: Seventh-round RB Jam Miller (Alabama) was the rookie headliner, which was timely as the competition for the team’s No. 3 running back took an unexpected twist when the Patriots placed leading candidate Terrell Jennings on injured reserve before the game. The 5-foot-10, 209-pound Miller started and ran hard, totaling 55 yards on 14 carries (3.9 YPC), and now might have the inside track on the RB3 role. Elsewhere, first-round pick Caleb Lomu started at right tackle and was called for a borderline ineligible man downfield penalty that negated a big play. — Mike Reiss
Next game: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Aug. 22, 7 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
Colts: Rookie linebacker Bryce Boettcher (three tackles) made an obvious impact in his first pro action, showing he can handle responsibilities while still bringing the physicality he has displayed throughout camp. The fourth-round pick’s continued development is a great sign for a linebacking corps with many questions.
Fifth-round pick George Gumbs Jr. had two tackles and a sack as he continues his bid to carve out a role in the defensive end rotation. Caden Curry, another rookie pass rusher, had a sack on an impressive inside move, a team-high five tackles, two tackles for loss and two pass deflections as he makes a bid for a roster spot.
Finally, third-round selection A.J. Haulcy played fast from his safety position, showing versatility in playing the single-high role and at strong safety in the tackle box. — Stephen Holder
Next game: vs. Atlanta Falcons (Aug. 22, 7 p.m. ET)
Chargers: Rookie left guard Jake Slaughter fared well, picking up a stunt during his time at left guard and looking comfortable under pressure. First-round edge rusher Akheem Mesidor didn’t flash much, playing only eight snaps. Undrafted rookie Nadame Tucker led the outside linebacker group with two pressures, showing the pass-rush ability that’s flashed throughout training camp. Wide receiver Brenen Thompson was mostly quiet but finished with two catches for 30 yards.
Overall, it was a solid opening night for the Chargers’ rookies, with Slaughter delivering the most impressive performance. — Kris Rhim
Next game: vs. San Francisco 49ers (Aug. 20, 10 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
Texans: Rookie center Keylan Rutledge played only one drive, which speaks to the first-rounder’s standing as a starter. The drive ended with a touchdown throw from quarterback Davis Mills to wideout Jared Wayne. During the possession, Mills found rookie tight end Marlin Klein on a seam route for a 31-yard reception. Klein also was limited to one possession, revealing that Houston is pleased with both of their performances throughout camp. Defensive tackle Kayden McDonald quickly displayed what made him valuable in college by producing a run stuff during his 21 plays of action. Overall, a solid outing for the Texans’ 2026 rookie class. — DJ Bien-Aime
Next game: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Aug. 20, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Titans: First-round picks Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk got the start against the 49ers. Tate was targeted twice, and both fell incomplete. Faulk started because veteran defensive lineman Jacob Martin (knee) was inactive. Faulk played into the third quarter and got a couple of pressures, one of which came via a spin move he had been working on with assistant defensive line coach Tanzel Smart before practice. Fifth-round pick Fernando Carmona took a big step toward securing the right guard spot. Carmona started the game after working with the first team over the past three practices.
Free agent cornerbacks Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott didn’t impress. Taylor gave up a 17-yard catch on third down, but it was called back for holding. Flott got beaten by rookie De’Zhaun Stribling for a 34-yard gain and was flagged for pass interference on running back Patrick Taylor Jr., which set up a 49ers touchdown. — Turron Davenport
Next game: at Seattle Seahawks (Aug. 23, 8 p.m. ET, Fox)
49ers: Second-round receiver De’Zhaun Stribling has been one of the stars of 49ers training camp, and that translated to his first preseason game. Stribling played the first three series, all against starting Titans defensive backs, and posted seven catches for 62 yards before calling it a night. That included an impressive over-the-shoulder grab for 32 yards and an 11-yard catch-and-run for a first down to set up San Francisco’s first touchdown.
Rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton also built on his strong camp, getting past Titans guard Peter Skoronski for a sack (that was called back for defensive holding elsewhere) and a run stop. Stribling and Halton have made strong cases for roles right away and only bolstered them Thursday night. — Nick Wagoner
Next game: at Los Angeles Chargers (Aug. 20, 10 p.m. ET, NFL Network)
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