The 2024 NFL preseason kicked off Thursday and Friday with five games of action, and nine more games are on the slate Saturday before Week 1 concludes with the final two games Sunday.
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 all fared in their first game action, our NFL Nation reporters summarize the top debuts below.
Saturday’s games
Jets: The Jets’ most impressive newcomer was rookie running back Braelon Allen. The fourth-round pick out of Wisconsin probably cemented his position as Breece Hall’s primary backup, rushing for 54 yards on six carries. With Hall sitting out (almost every starter got the day off), 6-foot-1, 235-pound Allen displayed power, vision and, yes, some speed on the perimeter. Allen’s rookie running mate, Isaiah Davis, made a 24-yard reception out of the backfield. Otherwise, it was a nondescript day for the fifth-round pick, who replaced Allen in the backfield and got a chance to return kickoffs and punts. Third-round wide receiver Malachi Corley made a 33-yard kickoff return, the highlight of his day. First-round pick Olu Fashanu, projected as Tyron Smith’s backup at left tackle, got plenty of work (24 snaps) and allowed two pressures and committed one penalty, per Next Gen Stats.
The only notable veteran newcomer to see action was quarterback Tyrod Taylor (1-for-2, minus-1 yards), who started for Aaron Rodgers and played only two series (both punts). He was under some duress, which might have factored into the decision to sit him down so quickly. The only projected starter who saw action was center Joe Tippmann, who has battled snapping issues in camp. — Rich Cimini
Next game: at Panthers (7 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Commanders: Washington saw what it hoped to from its most important newcomer — rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. He played only one series, and it was against New York’s second defense — and with Washington’s top three offensive tackles not playing. But Daniels’ one series left the Commanders smiling.
He completed 2 of 3 passes for 45 yards and scored on a 3-yard touchdown run. On a third-and-6, Daniels changed the play at the line of scrimmage, switching from a screen and connecting on a go ball down the right side to Dyami Brown. On the touchdown run, the safety wasn’t fooled by the zone-read fake, but Daniels was too quick to the outside and scored easily.
Second-round pick Mike Sainristil had a nice tackle in limited action at corner, and rookie tight end Ben Sinnott caught three passes for 57 yards and showed the ability to break tackles after the catch on a 44-yard play. One key newcomer, linebacker Frankie Luvu, displayed the speed and physical style he has shown throughout training camp. He’s going to be a big help. — John Keim
Next game: at Dolphins (7 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Bears: Over the course of 20 snaps (including two penalties) that spanned two drives, Caleb Williams showed what makes him such a unique playmaker in a debut filled with positive takeaways.
The No. 1 pick completed 4 of 7 pass attempts (which would have resulted in two more completions had it not been for drops) for 95 yards, had a 13-yard scramble, and got the Bears into the red zone twice, with both trips resulting in field goals. The quarterback’s ability to create in and out of structure, show poise and awareness in the pocket, and make precise throws on the run highlighted his first preseason action.
Williams’ first completion came on third-and-long after he worked through his progressions to find DJ Moore for a 12-yard gain. He extended a play by firing a dart to Cole Kmet while on the run and dumped off what looked like a no-look pass that D’Andre Swift took 42 yards down the field. Williams took what he learned from his Slip ‘n Slide training shown on the show “Hard Knocks” to slide and avoid getting hit after a perfectly timed scramble on third down. — Courtney Cronin
Next game: vs. Bengals (1 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Bills: This was the first opportunity to see quarterback Josh Allen with a revamped wide receiver room, and there were some positives to take away, but there also were some areas of concern from some skill position players, as part of an overall sloppy and inconsistent performance from all phases.
The actual playing time for Allen was limited, with the quarterback being pulled in the middle of his second series (after eight plays).
Some positives came from key starters. Wide receiver Curtis Samuel picked up 15 yards on a screen pass from Allen on the first play of the second drive. 2024 second-round pick Keon Coleman was on the field for 20 plays, including every play that Allen was in, with his only catch on two targets coming on a pass from backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, a solid first outing as a Bill.
An area that has been one to watch for this team and will continue to be is the drops. Wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling continues a concerning trend of not holding on to the ball, dropping his only target of the game despite playing 28 snaps. Returner and receiver KJ Hamler did not help his bid for a roster spot by dropping (and then recovering) a kickoff return. — Alaina Getzenberg
Next game: at Steelers (7 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Vikings: Look out. The J.J. McCarthy hype meter is about to go into overdrive.
In his professional debut, the Vikings’ rookie quarterback threw a pair of long third-quarter touchdown passes — one of 45 yards to Trishton Jackson in single coverage and another of 33 yards to Trent Sherfield Sr. against a busted coverage. In the public sphere, those scores will surely overshadow the interception he threw to end his first possession as well as a few other shaky passes.
The Vikings approached the game as if veteran Sam Darnold is their likely Week 1 starter, giving him one possession before McCarthy took over. Darnold led the Vikings to the Raiders’ 4-yard line before a fourth-down pass fell incomplete in the end zone.
McCarthy played the next six possessions, completing 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards while also scrambling twice on third down for 18 yards. In addition to the scores, he also had three other downfield completions of 18 yards or more. It remains to be seen whether the performance will change McCarthy’s spot on the Vikings’ depth chart, but overall it a strong first impression.
On the other side of the ball, rookie Dallas Turner played into the second quarter and produced two of the kind of pass rushes the Vikings hoped they would see when they traded up to draft the edge rusher No. 17 overall — including a key sack. — Kevin Seifert
Next game: at Browns (4:25 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Raiders: Quarterback Gardner Minshew did not get the start at the Vikings but played four series in the second quarter and acquitted himself well, leading the Raiders to three scoring drives.
The veteran free agent, locked in a quarterback battle with second-year returner Aidan O’Connell, completed 6 of 12 passes for 117 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Turner. Minshew also had a 7-yard scramble for a first-down. Conversely, O’Connell got the start but only had one series, completing 7 of 9 passes for 76 yards but took a sack at the Vikings’ 13-yard line on third-and-goal from the 3-yard line when left tackle Andrus Peat was beaten by Turner.
“I thought they both did a good job of making those chunk plays that we really want to emphasize,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said at halftime on the television broadcast, when Las Vegas held a 20-7 lead. “Good job of taking care of the football. Pretty good operation here in the two-minute drill as well.”
Pierce told ESPN at the end of camp in Costa Mesa, California, that whichever QB did not start at Minnesota would start the next exhibition. — Paul Gutierrez
Next game: vs. Cowboys (10 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Packers: No one on the Packers’ defense made more plays during the first three weeks of camp than rookie safety Evan Williams. That continued in the preseason opener.
After a solid first half, it was almost as if the fourth-round pick heard coach Matt LaFleur’s halftime interview on the team’s TV broadcast when the coach said: “We’ve got to attack the football a little bit better and try to get a takeaway opportunity.”
On the first play of the second half, Williams jarred the ball loose from running back John Kelly Jr. He finished with six tackles plus the forced fumble in 22 defensive snaps. While Williams is battling second-round pick Javon Bullard for the starting spot next to Xavier McKinney, it’s possible all three could play together considering defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley showed a three-safety nickel look against the Browns that featured Bullard as the slot defensive back.
Among the other marquee newcomers, first-round pick Jordan Morgan (shoulder) did not play, while free agents Josh Jacobs (one carry for 8 yards/one catch for a 2-yard loss in three snaps) and McKinney (eight defensive snaps) made their debuts. — Rob Demovsky
Next game: at Broncos (10 p.m. ET, Sunday, Aug. 18)
Browns: With the Browns holding out a host of starters and multiple injuries along the defensive line, defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr., Cleveland’s top draft pick, got extended playing time in his rookie debut.
It was a quiet afternoon for Hall, who played 29 defensive snaps and only recorded one assisted tackle. But on one third-down play, Hall showed the pass rush skills that have the Browns excited about his potential. Lined up over a right guard, he used a swim move to get past his blocker and converge on the quarterback. Later in the game, the Browns rotated Hall in on passing situations, a role he will likely play with the Vikings having a deep defensive front. — Daniel Oyefusi
Next game: vs. Vikings (4:25 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Friday’s games
Texans: The Texans’ big free agent acquisition, defensive end Danielle Hunter, had a sack and a quarterback pressure Friday night. The Texans’ other defensive free agent addition was linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who had a couple of tackles and helped limit the Steelers’ running game, as Najee Harris averaged 3 yards per attempt.
All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs, acquired from Buffalo via an offseason trade, had a quiet game with zero targets. However, he and the rest of the Texans’ starting offense had only two possessions. Even though Diggs was quiet, the offense wasn’t, as quarterback C.J. Stroud threw a touchdown to wide receiver Tank Dell on their second outing after going three-and-out on the initial drive.
For the rookies, the one standout was Calen Bullock. The third-round safety showed his range with a near interception as he flew from the middle of the field to the sideline and caught a deep pass from Steelers quarterback Kyle Allen, but his foot was out of bounds. — DJ Bien-Aime
Next game: vs. Giants (1 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Steelers: If Friday night’s game was an audition — as coach Mike Tomlin said Wednesday the entire preseason is — it’s clear the Steelers aren’t quite ready for the main stage. In a game that lacked execution in every phase, Justin Fields and the first-team unit — sans a couple of veteran linemen — didn’t score any points in three drives. While Fields was 5-of-6 for 67 yards, he was sacked twice and had two fumbles on snaps from center Nate Herbig. The next drive was smoother with rookie center Zach Frazier in at center.
But even amid the miscues, Fields had a handful of dazzling plays, including a pair of throws to offseason addition WR Van Jefferson on the sideline. The first went for 20 yards, but the second one was ruled out of bounds.
Rookie tackle Troy Fautanu also had an up-and-down first outing, helping spring RB Jaylen Warren for a 9-yard run, before giving up two sacks. Defensively, rookie inside linebacker Payton Wilson was active in his Steelers debut, recording a tackle for loss on the Texans’ first play and finishing with six combined tackles and a special teams tackle. Rookie cornerback-turned-safety Ryan Watts also flashed with a near interception and a third-quarter tackle at the line of scrimmage. — Brooke Pryor
Next game: vs. Bills (7 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Eagles: Rookie linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. had the kind of debut Philadelphia fans were looking for. Wearing the same No. 54 his father donned while roaming the middle of the Eagles’ defense for eight seasons, Trotter Jr. conjured up memories of the “Axe Man” with his team-leading six tackles and a sack. A fifth-round pick out of Clemson, Trotter continued what has been a strong summer to date. He is making a case for why he should have a role in Vic Fangio’s defense.
He wasn’t the only rookie to stand out. First-round corner Quinyon Mitchell nearly came up with an interception on the first series of the game. Running back Will Shipley found the end zone on a touchdown pass from Kenny Pickett. And edge rusher Jalyx Hunt (4 tackles) looked comfortable both rushing the passer and playing in space. — Tim McManus
Next game: at Patriots (7 p.m. ET, Thursday)
Ravens: Baltimore first-round pick Nate Wiggins’ impressive debut ended with him leaving the field with a team doctor. Wiggins, who started at corner, exited after one series in the second half with a right shoulder injury after making a drive-ending tackle on third down.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh didn’t have any update on Wiggins after the game.
The No. 30 pick in this year’s draft began the game by breaking up three passes on his first drive. He had great coverage on Eagles wide receiver Joseph Ngata on fourth down to end Philadelphia’s opening drive.
Wiggins’ biggest mistake was not closing on uncovered Eagles running back Will Shipley, who caught a short pass and ran untouched for a 7-yard touchdown. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Wiggins allowed two completions on six targeted passes for 16 yards and a touchdown.
His injury is another hit to Baltimore’s cornerback group. The Ravens have three other corners who are currently sidelined with injuries: Arthur Maulet (knee), T.J. Tampa (sports hernia) and Trayvon Mullen (shoulder).
Wiggins is projected as Baltimore’s third corner behind starters Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens. Later in the third quarter, another rookie defensive back was injured when seventh-round safety Sanoussi Kane left the game with a stinger. — Jamison Hensley
Next game: vs. Falcons (12 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Dolphins: First-round linebacker Chop Robinson and fifth-round linebacker Mohamed Kamara were both inactive, but the Dolphins’ other rookies got plenty of run in Friday’s preseason opener. Second-round pick Patrick Paul started at left tackle and flashed his potential as both a pass protector and an impactful run blocker.
Seventh-round safety Patrick McMorris led all players in tackles, but running back Jaylen Wright stole the show. The fourth-rounder’s patient running style churned out 40 rushing yards and a touchdown in the first half alone. He finished with 55 yards on 10 carries, leaving Dolphins fans feeling like their team found another De’Von Achane.
Finally, veteran free agent signee Siran Neal made an impact with two tackles on special teams. He also started at cornerback and forced a fumble, which he recovered. Miami’s big-name players were inactive but should see action in the team’s final two preseason games. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: vs. Commanders (7 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Falcons: Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. performed just about exactly as he has so far in practice during training camp: wowing with some big plays, but also missing open targets with overthrows. That’s completely fine for the Atlanta Falcons, since Penix won’t be starting this year behind veteran offseason addition Kirk Cousins.
Penix was 9-of-16 for 104 yards without a touchdown or an interception, playing for the majority of the first quarter. Coach Raheem Morris said at halftime he felt “great” about Penix’s play in his first NFL game. Penix’s best pass was a beautiful floater on a go route down the sideline to WR Chris Blair for 41 yards.
Rookie OLB Bralen Trice suffered a leg injury and came out of the game in the second quarter. That was bad news for the Falcons, since the third-round pick is one of the players the team is expecting to be able to get to the quarterback. Pass rush has been one of the franchise’s weak points for nearly a decade. — Marc Raimondi
Next game: at Ravens (12 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Thursday’s games
0:31
C.J. Stroud hits Tank Dell in stride for a TD
C.J. Stroud hooks up with Tank Dell for a 34-yard touchdown.
Patriots: The 2024 No. 3 pick, Drake Maye, entered the game on the second series, following veteran starter Jacoby Brissett. In all, he played seven snaps, which broke down this way: three runs, three passes, one false-start penalty. Two of the passes were screens — the first a 13-yarder to RB Antonio Gibson on third-and-12. Maye finished 2-of-3 for 19 yards. Head coach Jerod Mayo said postgame that the limited playing time for Maye was tied to wanting him to play behind the top offensive line.
Some fans in attendance booed when Maye wasn’t sent out for a third series, with Bailey Zappe taking over until late in the third quarter when rookie Joe Milton III capped off the four-man QB rotation. Milton brought some excitement to the lackluster game with a 12-yard run that covered a lot of ground as he scrambled backwards initially, and later with a 13-yard run and a 38-yard TD pass to WR JaQuae Jackson. Undrafted free agent punt returner David Wallis of Division III Randolph-Macon was also one of the night’s big winners with a 23-yard effort to set up the first TD. — Mike Reiss
Next game: vs. Eagles (7 p.m. ET, Thursday)
Panthers: Thirty-three players were inactive, including the entire starting defense — except cornerback Dane Jackson. GM Dan Morgan fought to draft Jackson at Buffalo in 2020 and brought him to Carolina on a two-year deal that could pay up to $14.5 million. The thought was Jackson could start opposite injury-plagued Jaycee Horn. That he played could be an indication he’s still in prove-it mode. It also could mean Morgan still is in the market for veteran corner Stephon Gilmore. Jackson had three tackles against the Patriots, but that he was on the field might be telling.
It was also apparent that undrafted rookie quarterback Jack Plummer is no threat to beat out veteran Andy Dalton (hamstring) for the backup job. To be fair, he played behind the second-team line that hasn’t performed well during the preseason. He also had consecutive passes dropped by wide receivers Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall Jr., which is concerning since both have looked good in camp. Mingo is listed as a starter ahead of first-round pick Xavier Legette (foot). — David Newton
Next game: vs. Jets (7 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
0:22
Rookie Joe Milton finds JaQuae Jackson for a Patriots’ TD
Patriots find the end zone for the second time as Joe Milton III rips a pass to JaQuae Jackson for a 38-yard touchdown.
Giants: The Giants got all their rookies into NFL game action, including first-round pick Malik Nabers. The young wide receiver, who has been dominant throughout training camp and joint practices, played 12 snaps on Thursday night against the Lions, mostly with the second-team offense. He ran eight routes and wasn’t targeted by backup quarterback Drew Lock, despite being open on multiple occasions.
Quarterback Daniel Jones and the starting offensive line did not play in the contest. Mostly, it was an uneventful evening for Nabers at MetLife Stadium, aside from being the last player introduced for the home fans during pregame warmups. While Nabers, the No. 6 pick earlier this year, escaped unscathed physically, the same couldn’t be said for Lock. He left the game late in the first quarter with a hip injury and did not return. It did not appear serious as he remained on the sideline, but it’s something worth monitoring with the Giants having only three quarterbacks (Jones, Lock and Tommy DeVito) on their roster. The Giants seemed confident afterwards that Lock would be fine, even if he was “sore,” according to coach Brian Daboll. — Jordan Raanan
Next game: at Texans (1 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Lions: After an intense week of joint practices against the New York Giants, where multiple fights occurred, most of the Lions’ starters didn’t suit up in the first preseason game. Rookie cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. looked good in their debuts despite limited action. Arnold, the No. 24 pick, would end his day after three series. Rakestraw, a second-round pick, registered two tackles while making some solid defensive plays.
Second-year signal-caller Hendon Hooker saw his first game action since college after recovering from a torn ACL. Entering the game after halftime, Hooker ended up finding a groove, going 5-for-9 with 36 passing yards and a team-high 34 rushing yards — including a 16-yard gain where he lowered his shoulder to get the first down near the end of the third quarter. Hooker’s night would end early as he entered the locker room and wouldn’t return at the start of the fourth with a concussion. — Eric Woodyard
Next game: at Chiefs (4 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Preseason Week 1 remaining schedule
Saturday games
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals, 7 p.m. ET
San Francisco 49ers at Tennessee Titans, 7 p.m. ET
Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars, 7 p.m. ET
Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Chargers, 7:05 p.m. ET
New Orleans Saints at Arizona Cardinals, 8 p.m. ET
Sunday games
Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams, 4:30 p.m. ET
