Takeaways: QBs Williams, Daniels, McCarthy, Nix impress in debuts
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NFL Nation, ESPN
The 2024 NFL preseason kicked off Thursday with several rookies playing their first snaps.
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.
Sunday’s games
Rams: The Rams didn’t play their starters or many key players against the Cowboys, including their top two picks: OLB Jared Verse and DT Braden Fiske.
Coach Sean McVay and the Rams did get an extended look at quarterback Stetson Bennett, a fourth-round pick in 2023 who spent his rookie season on the reserve/non-football illness list. Bennett played the entire game, struggling for much of it and throwing four interceptions. Bennett did lead the Rams on a winning drive and finished 24-of-38 for 224 yards and a touchdown. His top target was rookie wide receiver Jordan Whittington, a sixth-round pick, who had six catches for 74 yards.
Perhaps most importantly after the struggles the Rams had on special teams last season, Los Angeles saw promise from rookie kicker Joshua Karty. Karty made field goals of 28 and 39 yards as well as his extra point attempt. — Sarah Barshop
Cowboys: The Cowboys didn’t get much production from their 2023 draft class a year ago, but they need defensive tackle Mazi Smith (first round), tight end Luke Schoonmaker (second) and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (third), who suffered a torn ACL last summer, to make big second-year jumps.
Overshown and Smith had first-quarter tackles for loss and Smith appeared to hold up decently in the middle before coming out in the second quarter. Schoonmaker was targeted in the end zone by Trey Lance, but the pass was overthrown. Later, Eric Scott Jr., who did not play in a game as a rookie, had an interception.
All eyes, however, were on Lance, who was making his Cowboys debut. Much like in camp, he showed some good (three first-down throws, a 19-yard run), some misses (fourth-down fade to Jalen Moreno-Cropper, go ball to an open Cam Johnson) and some indecision (two sacks). — Todd Archer
Broncos: Rookie Bo Nix was was the second quarterback into the game and got a smattering of snaps with the starting offense before spending much of his day with the second team against the Colts’ second-team defense. Nix led the offense to a field goal just before the half and a touchdown to open the second half — four scoring drives in his five possessions. He was 15-of-21 passing overall for 125 yards and a 1-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims Jr. in the second quarter. In the non-quarterback category, rookie outside linebacker Jonah Elliss was impactful in his outing, including a pressure to force Colts quarterback Sam Ehlinger into an interception in the first half. — Jeff Legwold
Next game: vs. Packers (8 p.m. ET, Sunday, Aug. 18)
Colts: It was a mostly quiet day for Colts newcomers, including first-round pick Laiatu Latu. The defensive end and 15th pick finished with one tackle and a couple of pressures in limited action, spending part of his afternoon with the first-team defense. Latu has been alternating between the first- and second-team defense throughout training camp but is expected to play an important role in 2024 given the season-ending Achilles injury to Colts 2023 sack leader Samson Ebukam.
Elsewhere, the Colts got their first look at second-round pick Adonai Mitchell, who caught one pass for 11 yards on two targets. Mitchell played mostly with the second-team offense and is in competition with Alec Pierce for the No. 3 wideout spot. Mitchell could factor more prominently in the offense in the near term given the high ankle sprain sustained last week by No. 2 receiver Josh Downs. Also of note, quarterback Anthony Richardson, while not a newcomer, returned to the lineup and completed 2 of 4 passes for 25 yards on two series of playing time in his first action since Week 5 of last season. — Stephen Holder
Next game: vs. Cardinals (7 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
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 left 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 had only 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 preseason game. — 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 recorded only 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 because of the Browns’ deep defensive front. — Daniel Oyefusi
Next game: vs. Vikings (4:25 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Seahawks: Quarterback Sam Howell was much sharper in the Seahawks’ preseason opener than he was over the first two weeks of training camp. With Geno Smith not playing, Seattle’s No. 2 quarterback started and completed 16 of 27 attempts for 130 yards on eight possessions while playing mostly with backups. He threw a touchdown pass to cap a 59-yard drive, led another TD drive that was aided by a short field and did not turn the ball over.
No quarterback threw more interceptions (21) or took more sacks (65) last season than Howell, which is why the Seahawks were able to acquire him from Washington for what amounted to a midround pick. His accuracy has been spotty in camp, as has his ability to get the ball out on time. Howell was better in both areas Saturday. He was sacked twice but appeared to have no chance on one of them. He didn’t put the ball in harm’s way, with three incompletions coming on throwaways. He also spun out of a would-be sack and picked up 14 yards on another scramble, showing off the legs that have been one of his better assets this summer. Howell has been described as a “gamer,” and his performance against the Chargers vis-à-vis how he has looked in camp might be proof of that. — Brady Henderson
Next game: at Titans (7 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Chargers: The Chargers’ first-round pick, Joe Alt, played 20 snaps at right tackle, more than any other projected starters, allowing one pressure on 13 pass-blocking reps. Alt was beat by Seahawks outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, who got close enough to quarterback Easton Stick to force an incompletion to receiver DJ Chark Jr.
The biggest surprise was quarterback Luis Perez. The Chargers signed Perez, who last played for the Arlington Renegades of the UFL, on Wednesday in what coach Jim Harbaugh said was a message to backups Max Duggan and Casey Bauman that Stick needed more competition with Justin Herbert out. Perez had the longest completion of the game — a 36-yard pass to WR Jaylen Johnson.
Perez continued to try for the deep ball, but on that possession his next four passes were incomplete. Bauman didn’t play a snap, and Perez finished 5-for-9 with 61 passing yards, the most of any Chargers quarterback. Duggan and Stick combined for 72 total passing yards. — Kris Rhim
Next game: vs. Rams (7:05 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Titans: Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley quickly showed the playmaking ability that made him the top free agent pass catcher in March. Ridley caught a pass short of the sticks on third-and-10 and made a defender miss before running across the field for a 22-yard gain and a first down. It was Ridley’s only catch, but it’s a product of the work he and second-year quarterback Will Levis have put in all camp.
New running back Tony Pollard also flashed in his debut. Pollard showed how he can run behind his pads on an 8-yard carry followed by a 24-yard run that displayed his explosiveness. Pollard got the start and finished the day with four carries for 35 yards. As for the rookies, cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. earned the start after a solid couple of weeks in training camp. He posted three tackles and a pass breakup. Brownlee didn’t panic on a deep pass and turned his head for the ball at just the right time to break it up. — Turron Davenport
Next game: vs. Seahawks (7 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
49ers: Most of the 49ers’ starters didn’t play in this one, but a prominent rookie who is aiming to become a starter got plenty of work in the first half. Guard Dominick Puni has been working with the top offense throughout camp because of injuries in front of him. He got the call Saturday night and showed why the coaching staff thinks so highly of him already. San Francisco ran behind Puni multiple times on an impressive opening drive, and Puni pushed running back Jordan Mason into the end zone for the game’s first touchdown. With Spencer Burford (hand) and Jon Feliciano (knee) battling through injuries, Puni has a real shot to stake his claim to the job and never give it back.
Elsewhere, newly signed QB Josh Dobbs didn’t start but handled the second half after returnee Brandon Allen handled the opening two quarters. Dobbs and Allen are battling for the backup quarterback job with Allen having a slight edge. While that probably didn’t change, Dobbs did well, finishing 14-of-20 for 146 yards with a rushing touchdown and an interception on a Hail Mary late. Allen was 7-of-13 for 98 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, though he also was hurt by a couple of drops on well-thrown deep balls.
Rookie safety Malik Mustapha also made a strong impression, coming up with a fourth-down stop deep in San Francisco territory, making another strong tackle on special teams and finishing with three tackles on the night. — Nick Wagoner
Next game: vs. Saints (8 p.m. ET, Sunday, Aug. 18)
Bucs: Bucs fans should be encouraged by what they saw on the ground, even with only a couple of starters playing. Rookie fourth-round pick Bucky Irving and second-year back Sean Tucker combined for 96 rushing yards on 16 carries (6.0 YPC average) with Irving scoring a touchdown on a 5-yard run, Tucker notching a 26-yard run and Ramon Jefferson scoring on a 3-yard run to clinch the win.
Center Graham Barton, Tampa’s first-round pick, didn’t allow a single pressure on 11 pass blocks (he rotated with Robert Hainsey). We saw Jalen McMillan run only six routes, but he caught both of his targets for 23 receiving yards. Defensively, Keenan Isaac had a second-quarter interception while Josh Hayes surrendered a first-quarter touchdown with a missed tackle. — Jenna Laine
Next game: at Jaguars (7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Bengals: First-round pick Amarius Mims continued to make a strong case to be the starting right tackle for Week 1. Mims was on the field for the first two drives. Of his 15 offensive snaps, there were only two quarterback pressures. Both came on blitzes from the second level of the defense. Mims got an “A-plus” from quarterback Joe Burrow earlier in training camp and could be the best option at the position over veteran Trent Brown, who has yet to participate in any team drills after being cleared to practice on Aug. 4.
Second-round pick Kris Jenkins Jr. saw a lot of early action. All 22 of his defensive snaps came in the first half and he tallied one tackle. But the rookie highlight came from fifth-rounder Josh Newton, who intercepted Tampa Bay quarterback Kyle Trask in the second quarter. Cincinnati’s coaching staff has been very high on Newton, whose production earned him first-team reps in camp.
Wide receiver Jermaine Burton, a third-round pick, didn’t see much action until the third-team offense entered the game in the fourth quarter. Burton flashed his potential when he hauled in a deep ball down the left sideline for a 37-yard touchdown. — Ben Baby
Next game: at Bears (1 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Jaguars: Rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. had a quiet camp, but he flashed the abilities that made him the 23rd overall pick. He caught a 41-yard pass down the sideline on a third-and-1 throw from quarterback C.J. Beathard. The ball was slightly underthrown and Thomas had to fight through some contact from cornerback Joshua Williams to make what turned out to be his only catch of the night.
Veteran receiver/returner Devin Duvernay, who signed with the Jaguars in March, had an even more impressive catch from Beathard. He had to come back a little inside and dove around the outstretched arms of cornerback Nic Jones to haul in the throw and then rolled into the end zone for a 35-yard touchdown.
The Jaguars wanted to add more downfield throws in the offense in 2024, which is why they drafted Thomas (who ran 4.33 at the combine) and signed veteran Gabe Davis (16.7 yards per catch in his career) in free agency. — Michael DiRocco
Next game: vs. Bucs (7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Chiefs: The Chiefs didn’t get much of a look at the receivers they are expecting to help improve their passing game in their preseason opener against the Jaguars. Marquise Brown, their big free agent addition, caught a pass from Patrick Mahomes on the first play of the game but left immediately afterward with a shoulder injury. Their other major addition at wide receiver — first-round draft pick Xavier Worthy — also played little and didn’t get a pass thrown his way.
Tight end Jared Wiley, a fourth-round draft pick, caught two passes for 5 yards. Second-round draft pick Kingsley Suamataia started at left tackle and played the entire first drive, which ended with the Chiefs kicking a field goal. Suamataia then left the game for good, along with the other offensive starters. — Adam Teicher
Next game: vs. Lions (4 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 17)
Saints: Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler had an impressive first drive, leading the offense 70 yards down the field and capping things off with a 4-yard touchdown run. Rattler, who played the entire second half, finished 9-of-17 for 70 yards. He did have some stumbles late in the game behind a third-team offensive line but was able to get the offense down the field to set up a winning field goal with under two minutes remaining.
Rookie first-round pick Taliese Fuaga started the game at left tackle and appeared to hold up well in protection, first playing with Derek Carr and then staying in briefly when Jake Haener came in with the second-team offense.
Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, a second-round pick, got the start because of several injuries in the unit and flashed early to help the first-team defense get off to a solid start. — Katherine Terrell
Next game: at 49ers (8 p.m. ET, Sunday, Aug. 18)
Cardinals: Of all the new Cardinals added this offseason, the one fans wanted to see most hardly played Saturday night. Rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. played just three snaps, all on the opening drive, but didn’t get a target.
Fellow rookie running back Trey Benson was given the ball in the first half and showed glimpses of the back the Cardinals hope he can be. He had eight carries for 21 yards that included a couple of chunk runs. There were times Saturday that Benson looked like a rookie, making ill-advised decisions with the ball. The best he looked was on a 19-yard catch that was called back because of an illegal man downfield, but the play showcased Benson’s versatility.
New quarterback Desmond Ridder got the start and played the first half. He finished with 43 yards on 4-for-9 passing along with five carries for 39 yards including a long of 22. Ridder showed he can make plays with his feet, but there’s still some development within the scheme that needs to take place for him to win the backup quarterback job. — Josh Weinfuss
Next game: at Colts (7 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
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)
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)
