The NFL preseason is in full swing, and it started with a load of games between Thursday and Saturday.
Multiple players improved their odds of making the roster or further establishing themselves with their respective teams. Numerous rookies, including undrafted ones, rose to the occasion in Week 1, and several veterans made promising strides.
Drew Allar
The Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback shined with 10-13 passing, 153 yards, and two touchdowns, plus a rushing touchdown. Allar led the Steelers to a 28–9 victory over the Green Bay Packers. He also demonstrated big-play ability with a 74-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kaden Wetjen. A former Penn State star, Allar had a 154.8 passer rating.
Ty Simpson
The Los Angeles Rams quarterback impressed on Saturday in a 20–12 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Simpson completed 84 percent of his passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns in his NFL debut. The former Alabama star was a surprise first-round pick of the Rams this spring, and he flashed his potential on Saturday.
De’Zhaun Stribling
The San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver stepped up with seven catches for 63 yards, which included a highlight 32-yard grab over the shoulder. Stribling couldn’t get the 49ers over the hump in a 19–13 defeat against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, but he will be a wideout to watch going forward. San Francisco took Stribling with a second-round pick out of Ole Miss in this year’s draft.
Mike Washington Jr.
The Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back demonstrated big-play ability with a 53-yard run on Thursday. Washington rushed 63 yards on six carries in a 27–14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. A former Arkansas star, Washington could be a big addition for backfield depth this year.
Kaden Davis
The Chicago Bears wide receiver stepped up big with four receptions for 88 yards in a 34–10 win over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday. That included Davis’ 41-yard reception, and he had 22 yards after the catch for the game. Davis has been a journeyman with five different NFL teams since 2022, and his sixth stop is looking promising at the moment.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
The Philadelphia Eagles linebacker stepped up with five tackles, two quarterback hits and a sack.
Ahmed Hassanein
The Detroit Lions rookie edge tallied two sacks against the Cincinnati Bengals during a 16–14 defeat on Thursday. Hassanein, who also had four tackles, could earn a rotational role if he keeps performing at that level. Detroit took the Anaheim, California, native with a sixth-round pick out of Boise State this year.
Braelon Allen
The New York Jets running back went 31 yards on a touchdown run against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday. Allen rushed for 44 yards on four carries overall in the 24–16 loss at home. The former fourth-round pick and former Wisconsin Badgers standout has 575 career yards in two seasons.
Kamari Ramsey
The Houston Texans rookie defensive back made an interception in the red zone against the Los Angeles Chargers during a 27–7 defeat on Thursday. Ramsey showed he is going to be a threat against receivers this year. The Texans took the Los Angeles native with a fifth-round pick out of USC.
Ayden Garnes
The Buccaneers rookie cornerback returned a 47-yard pick-six on Friday. Garnes, an undrafted free agent, is showing early promise with the monster play. Besides the interception return, he had three tackles and a pass deflection. The Buccaneers brought in Garnes as an undrafted free agent from the Arizona Wildcats.
Jalon Daniels
The Buccaneers undrafted rookie quarterback impressed with 10–15 passing for 111 yards, and he rushed for a touchdown. Daniels, a former Kansas standout, could make more waves for the Buccaneers in the preseason after that kind of start. The Lawndale, California, native had already been turning heads in training camp.
Chris Blair
The Atlanta Falcons wide receiver had 37 receiving yards on two catches during a 27–7 loss to the Denver Broncos on Friday. Blair’s highlights included a 21-yard leaping catch. He has been with the Falcons since 2023, and he only has a catch for 17 yards for his career in regular season action. The former Alcorn State standout started off as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers in 2020.
Jam Miller
The New England Patriots rookie running back impressed with 55 yards on 14 carries in a 13–13 tie with the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday. Miller, a seventh-round pick out of Alabama, could add depth to the Patriots’ backfield if he keeps developing.
