NFL preseason Week 1: Takeaways on top players, schedule

NFL Nation, ESPNAug 9, 2024, 10:38 PM ET

The 2024 NFL preseason kicked off Thursday, and it continued Friday with the Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons in motion. The remainder of the league continues with video games on Saturday and Sunday (full schedule beneath).

Week 1 of preseason video games serves as a primary look into the brand new gamers on every group, whether or not they’re rookies or offseason acquisitions. To maintain you up to date on how gamers all fared of their first recreation motion, our NFL Nation reporters summarize the highest debuts beneath.

Friday’s video games

Texans: The Texans’ huge free agent acquisition, defensive finish Danielle Hunter, had a sack and a quarterback strain Friday evening. The Texans’ different defensive free agent addition was linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who had a few tackles and helped restrict the Steelers’ operating recreation, as Najee Harris averaged 3 yards per try.

All-Professional huge receiver Stefon Diggs, acquired from Buffalo through an offseason commerce, had a quiet recreation with zero targets. Nonetheless, he and the remainder of the Texans’ beginning offense had solely two possessions. Despite the fact that Diggs was quiet, the offense wasn’t, as quarterback C.J. Stroud threw a landing to huge receiver Tank Dell on their second outing after going three-and-out on the preliminary drive.

For the rookies, the one standout was Calen Bullock. The third-round security confirmed his vary with a close to interception as he flew from the center of the sphere to the sideline and caught a deep go from Steelers quarterback Kyle Allen, however his foot was out of bounds. — DJ Bien-Aime

Subsequent recreation: vs. Giants (1 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)

Steelers: If Friday evening’s recreation was an audition — as coach Mike Tomlin mentioned Wednesday your entire preseason is — it is clear the Steelers aren’t fairly prepared for the primary stage. In a recreation that lacked execution in each section, Justin Fields and the first-team unit — sans a few veteran linemen — did not rating any factors in three drives. Whereas Fields was 5-of-6 for 67 yards, he was sacked twice and had two fumbles on snaps from middle Nate Herbig. The subsequent drive was smoother with rookie middle Zach Frazier in at middle.

However even amid the miscues, Fields had a handful of dazzling performs, together with a pair of throws to offseason addition WR Van Jefferson on the sideline. The primary went for 20 yards, however the second was dominated out of bounds.

Rookie deal with Troy Fautanu additionally had an up-and-down first outing, serving to spring RB Jaylen Warren for a 9-yard run, earlier than giving up two sacks. Defensively, rookie inside linebacker Payton Wilson was energetic in his Steelers debut, recording a deal with for loss on the Texans’ first play and ending with six mixed tackles and a particular groups deal with. Rookie cornerback-turned-safety Ryan Watts additionally flashed with a close to interception and a third-quarter deal with on the line of scrimmage. — Brooke Pryor

Subsequent recreation: vs. Payments (7 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)

Eagles: Rookie linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. had the form of debut Philadelphia followers have been on the lookout for. Sporting the identical No. 54 his father donned whereas roaming the center of the Eagles’ protection for eight seasons, Trotter Jr. conjured up reminiscences of the “Axe Man” together with his team-leading six tackles and a sack. A fifth-round pick of Clemson, Trotter continued what has been a robust summer time to this point. He’s making a case for why he ought to have a job in Vic Fangio’s protection.

He wasn’t the one rookie to face out. First-round nook Quinyon Mitchell almost got here up with an interception on the primary sequence of the sport. Operating again Will Shipley discovered the top zone on a landing go from Kenny Pickett. And edge rusher Jalyx Hunt (4 tackles) regarded comfy each speeding the passer and enjoying in house. — Tim McManus

Subsequent recreation: at Patriots (7 p.m. ET, Thursday)

Ravens: Baltimore first-round decide Nate Wiggins’ spectacular debut ended with him leaving the sphere with a group physician. Wiggins, who began at nook, exited after one sequence within the second half with a proper shoulder damage after making a drive-ending deal with on third down.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh did not have any replace on Wiggins after the sport.

The No. 30 decide on this yr’s draft started the sport by breaking apart three passes on his first drive. He had nice protection on Eagles huge receiver Joseph Ngata on fourth down to finish Philadelphia’s opening drive.

Wiggins’ greatest mistake was not closing on uncovered Eagles operating again Will Shipley, who caught a brief go and ran untouched for a 7-yard landing. In line with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, Wiggins allowed two completions on six focused passes for 16 yards and a landing.

His damage is one other hit to Baltimore’s cornerback group. The Ravens have three different corners who’re presently sidelined with accidents: Arthur Maulet (knee), T.J. Tampa (sports activities hernia) and Trayvon Mullen (shoulder).

Wiggins is projected as Baltimore’s third nook behind starters Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens. Later within the third quarter, one other rookie defensive again was injured when seventh-round security Sanoussi Kane left the sport with a stinger. — Jamison Hensley

Subsequent recreation: vs. Falcons (12 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)

Dolphins: First-round linebacker Chop Robinson and fifth-round linebacker Mohamed Kamara have been each inactive, however the Dolphins’ different rookies received loads of run in Friday’s preseason opener. Second-round decide Patrick Paul began at left deal with and flashed his potential as each a go protector and an impactful run blocker.

Seventh-round security Patrick McMorris led all gamers in tackles, however operating again Jaylen Wright stole the present. The fourth-rounder’s affected person operating type churned out 40 speeding yards and a landing within the first half alone. He completed with 55 yards on 10 carries, leaving Dolphins followers feeling like their group discovered one other De’Von Achane.

Lastly, veteran free agent signee Siran Neal made an impression with two tackles on particular groups. He additionally began at cornerback and compelled a fumble, which he recovered. Miami’s big-name gamers have been inactive however ought to see motion within the group’s last two preseason video games. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Subsequent recreation: vs. Commanders (7 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)

Falcons: Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. carried out nearly precisely as he has up to now in apply throughout coaching camp: wowing with some huge performs, but in addition lacking open targets with overthrows. That is fully superb for the Atlanta Falcons, since Penix will not be beginning this yr behind veteran offseason addition Kirk Cousins.

Penix was 9-of-16 for 104 yards with out a landing or an interception, enjoying for almost all of the primary quarter. Coach Raheem Morris mentioned at halftime he felt “nice” about Penix’s play in his first NFL recreation. Penix’s finest go was a fantastic floater on a go route down the sideline to WR Chris Blair for 41 yards.

Rookie OLB Bralen Trice suffered a leg damage and got here out of the sport within the second quarter. That was unhealthy information for the Falcons, for the reason that third-round decide is among the gamers the group is anticipating to have the ability to get to the quarterback. Cross rush has been one of many franchise’s weak factors for almost a decade. — Marc Raimondi

Subsequent recreation: at Ravens (12 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)

Thursday’s video games

Rookie Joe Milton finds JaQuae Jackson for a Patriots’ TD

Patriots discover the top zone for the second time as Joe Milton III rips a go to JaQuae Jackson for a 38-yard landing.

Patriots: The 2024 No. 3 decide, Drake Maye, entered the sport on the second sequence, following veteran starter Jacoby Brissett. In all, he performed seven snaps, which broke down this fashion: three runs, three passes, one false-start penalty. Two of the passes have been screens — the primary a 13-yarder to RB Antonio Gibson on third-and-12. Maye completed 2-of-3 for 19 yards. Head coach Jerod Mayo mentioned postgame that the restricted enjoying time for Maye was tied to wanting him to play behind the highest offensive line.

Some followers in attendance booed when Maye wasn’t despatched out for a 3rd sequence, with Bailey Zappe taking up till late within the third quarter when rookie Joe Milton III capped off the four-man QB rotation. Milton introduced some pleasure to the lackluster recreation with a 12-yard run that lined plenty of floor as he scrambled backwards initially, and later with a 13-yard run and a 38-yard TD go to WR JaQuae Jackson. Undrafted free agent punt returner David Wallis of Division III Randolph-Macon was additionally one of many evening’s huge winners with a 23-yard effort to arrange the primary TD. — Mike Reiss

Subsequent recreation: vs. Eagles (7 p.m. ET, Thursday)

Panthers: Thirty-three gamers have been inactive, together with your entire beginning protection — besides cornerback Dane Jackson. GM Dan Morgan fought to draft Jackson at Buffalo in 2020 and introduced him to Carolina on a two-year deal that would pay as much as $14.5 million. The thought was Jackson might begin reverse injury-plagued Jaycee Horn. That he performed may very well be a sign he is nonetheless in prove-it mode. It additionally might imply Morgan nonetheless is out there for veteran nook Stephon Gilmore. Jackson had three tackles towards the Patriots, however that he was on the sphere may be telling.

It was additionally obvious that undrafted rookie quarterback Jack Plummer is not any menace to beat out veteran Andy Dalton (hamstring) for the backup job. To be honest, he performed behind the second-team line that hasn’t carried out properly in the course of the preseason. He additionally had consecutive passes dropped by huge receivers Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall Jr., which is regarding since each have regarded good in camp. Mingo is listed as a starter forward of first-round decide Xavier Legette (foot). — David Newton

Subsequent recreation: vs. Jets (7 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)

Eric Grey scores on 48-yard speeding TD

Eric Grey runs for a 48-yard landing to place the Giants up 7-3.

Giants: The Giants received all their rookies into NFL recreation motion, together with first-round decide Malik Nabers. The younger huge receiver, who has been dominant all through coaching camp and joint practices, performed 12 snaps on Thursday evening towards the Lions, principally with the second-team offense. He ran eight routes and wasn’t focused by backup quarterback Drew Lock, regardless of being open on a number of events.

Quarterback Daniel Jones and the beginning offensive line didn’t play within the contest. Largely, it was an uneventful night for Nabers at MetLife Stadium, other than being the final participant launched for the house followers throughout pregame warmups. Whereas Nabers, the No. 6 decide earlier this yr, escaped unscathed bodily, the identical could not be mentioned for Lock. He left the sport late within the first quarter with a hip damage and didn’t return. It didn’t seem critical as he remained on the sideline, but it surely’s one thing price monitoring with the Giants having solely three quarterbacks (Jones, Lock and Tommy DeVito) on their roster. The Giants appeared assured afterwards that Lock can be superb, even when he was “sore,” in line with coach Brian Daboll. — Jordan Raanan

Subsequent recreation: at Texans (1 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)

Lions: After an intense week of joint practices towards the New York Giants, the place a number of fights occurred, many of the Lions’ starters did not go well with up within the first preseason recreation. Rookie cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. regarded good of their debuts regardless of restricted motion. Arnold, the No. 24 decide, would finish his day after three sequence. Rakestraw, a second-round decide, registered two tackles whereas making some strong defensive performs.

Second-year signal-caller Hendon Hooker noticed his first recreation motion since faculty after recovering from a torn ACL. Coming into the sport after halftime, Hooker ended up discovering a groove, going 5-for-9 with 36 passing yards and a team-high 34 speeding yards — together with a 16-yard achieve the place he lowered his shoulder to get the primary down close to the top of the third quarter. Hooker’s evening would finish early as he entered the locker room and would not return at first of the fourth with a concussion. — Eric Woodyard

Subsequent recreation: at Chiefs (4 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)