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 staff, 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’ massive free agent acquisition, defensive finish Danielle Hunter, had a sack and a quarterback strain Friday night time. The Texans’ different defensive free agent addition was linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who had a few tackles and helped restrict the Steelers’ working recreation, as Najee Harris averaged 3 yards per try.
All-Professional extensive receiver Stefon Diggs, acquired from Buffalo by way of an offseason commerce, had a quiet recreation with zero targets. Nevertheless, he and the remainder of the Texans’ beginning offense had solely two possessions. Although Diggs was quiet, the offense wasn’t, as quarterback C.J. Stroud threw a landing to extensive 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 night time’s recreation was an audition — as coach Mike Tomlin stated Wednesday your complete preseason is — it is clear the Steelers aren’t fairly prepared for the primary stage. In a recreation that lacked execution in each part, 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 heart Nate Herbig. The subsequent drive was smoother with rookie heart Zach Frazier in at heart.
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 sort out 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 sort out for loss on the Texans’ first play and ending with six mixed tackles and a particular groups sort out. Rookie cornerback-turned-safety Ryan Watts additionally flashed with a close to interception and a third-quarter sort out 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 sort of debut Philadelphia followers had been in search of. 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” along with his team-leading six tackles and a sack. A fifth-round select of Clemson, Trotter continued what has been a powerful summer time so far. 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. Working again Will Shipley discovered the top zone on a landing go from Kenny Pickett. And edge rusher Jalyx Hunt (4 tackles) appeared snug each speeding the passer and enjoying in house. — Tim McManus
Subsequent recreation: at Patriots (7 p.m. ET, Thursday)
Ravens: Baltimore first-round choose Nate Wiggins’ spectacular debut ended with him leaving the sphere with a staff physician. Wiggins, who began at nook, exited after one sequence within the second half with a proper shoulder harm after making a drive-ending sort out on third down.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh did not have any replace on Wiggins after the sport.
The No. 30 choose on this 12 months’s draft started the sport by breaking apart three passes on his first drive. He had nice protection on Eagles extensive receiver Joseph Ngata on fourth down to finish Philadelphia’s opening drive.
Wiggins’ largest mistake was not closing on uncovered Eagles working again Will Shipley, who caught a brief go and ran untouched for a 7-yard landing. In keeping with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, Wiggins allowed two completions on six focused passes for 16 yards and a landing.
His harm is one other hit to Baltimore’s cornerback group. The Ravens have three different corners who’re at the moment 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 had been each inactive, however the Dolphins’ different rookies bought loads of run in Friday’s preseason opener. Second-round choose Patrick Paul began at left sort out 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 working again Jaylen Wright stole the present. The fourth-rounder’s affected person working 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 staff discovered one other De’Von Achane.
Lastly, veteran free agent signee Siran Neal made an affect with two tackles on particular groups. He additionally began at cornerback and compelled a fumble, which he recovered. Miami’s big-name gamers had been inactive however ought to see motion within the staff’s ultimate 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 to date in follow throughout coaching camp: wowing with some massive performs, but in addition lacking open targets with overthrows. That is utterly tremendous for the Atlanta Falcons, since Penix will not be beginning this 12 months 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 stated at halftime he felt “nice” about Penix’s play in his first NFL recreation. Penix’s finest go was a phenomenal floater on a go route down the sideline to WR Chris Blair for 41 yards.
Rookie OLB Bralen Trice suffered a leg harm and got here out of the sport within the second quarter. That was unhealthy information for the Falcons, because the third-round choose is likely one of the gamers the staff 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
0:22
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 choose, Drake Maye, entered the sport on the second sequence, following veteran starter Jacoby Brissett. In all, he performed seven snaps, which broke down this manner: three runs, three passes, one false-start penalty. Two of the passes had 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 stated 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 on 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 coated a variety 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 night time’s massive 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 had been inactive, together with your complete 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 available in the market for veteran nook Stephon Gilmore. Jackson had three tackles in opposition to the Patriots, however that he was on the sphere may be telling.
It was additionally obvious that undrafted rookie quarterback Jack Plummer isn’t any risk 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 nicely through the preseason. He additionally had consecutive passes dropped by extensive receivers Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall Jr., which is regarding since each have appeared good in camp. Mingo is listed as a starter forward of first-round choose Xavier Legette (foot). — David Newton
Subsequent recreation: vs. Jets (7 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
0:42
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 bought all their rookies into NFL recreation motion, together with first-round choose Malik Nabers. The younger extensive receiver, who has been dominant all through coaching camp and joint practices, performed 12 snaps on Thursday night time in opposition to the Lions, largely 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 choose earlier this 12 months, escaped unscathed bodily, the identical could not be stated for Lock. He left the sport late within the first quarter with a hip harm and didn’t return. It didn’t seem critical as he remained on the sideline, however it’s one thing value 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 tremendous, even when he was “sore,” in response to coach Brian Daboll. — Jordan Raanan
Subsequent recreation: at Texans (1 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Lions: After an intense week of joint practices in opposition to the New York Giants, the place a number of fights occurred, a lot of the Lions’ starters did not go well with up within the first preseason recreation. Rookie cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. appeared good of their debuts regardless of restricted motion. Arnold, the No. 24 choose, would finish his day after three sequence. Rakestraw, a second-round choose, registered two tackles whereas making some stable defensive performs.
Second-year signal-caller Hendon Hooker noticed his first recreation motion since school after recovering from a torn ACL. Getting 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 night time would finish early as he entered the locker room and would not return firstly of the fourth with a concussion. — Eric Woodyard
Subsequent recreation: at Chiefs (4 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Preseason Week 1 remaining schedule
Saturday video games
Washington Commanders at New York Jets, 12 p.m. ET
Chicago Bears at Buffalo Payments, 1 p.m. ET
Las Vegas Raiders at Minnesota Vikings, 4 p.m. ET
Inexperienced Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns, 4:25 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals, 7 p.m. ET
San Francisco 49ers at Tennessee Titans, 7 p.m. ET
Kansas Metropolis 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 video games
Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams, 4:30 p.m. ET
