There aren’t many moments when NFL players actually feel like the rest of us — but the first preseason game might be one of them. It’s not that different from your first day at a new job. You walk in full of potential, maybe a little nervous, and suddenly, every eye in the room is on you. Are you ready? Can you handle the speed, the pressure, the expectations?

That’s what makes this moment so human — even the most talented rookie has to prove they belong when the lights flip on. For the 2025 rookie class, this was their first real taste of NFL speed, structure, and scrutiny. The college tape is nice, the Combine numbers are shiny, but this is where the reps start to count.

Some guys settled right in like they’ve been here, some flashed raw talent, and others? They learned quick that Sundays aren’t the same as Saturdays. That’s the beauty of preseason — it’s not about the scoreboard, it’s about the process. You’re looking at footwork, timing, decision-making, and whether a guy can bounce back after getting punched in the mouth.

We’re not here to hand out gold jackets after one game, but we are here to track which rookies made a statement and which ones stumbled out of the gate. Let’s get into who rose, who fell, and what it all could mean when the real bullets start flying in Week 1.

The Standouts: Five Rookies Who Turned Heads in Week 1

These guys didn’t just show up; they made cases for why their teams — or your fantasy roster — need to pay attention. From QBs slinging it like vets to backs breaking ankles, this crew brought the hype and backed it up.

Jaxson Dart (QB, New York Giants)

Jaxson Dart’s path to the NFL wasn’t a straight line, but his Week 1 debut against Buffalo screamed “I’m here.” The Ole Miss product, nabbed at No. 25 overall, came with a rep as a high-upside gunslinger. Scouts loved his 41 FBS starts, quick release, and ability to layer throws, but some people knocked his consistency after a bumpy USC stint before thriving under Lane Kiffin.

Dart stepped in after Russell Wilson’s brief cameo and owned it: 12 of 19 for 154 yards, one TD, no picks, and a 106.0 passer rating. He led three straight scoring drives in the second quarter, including a 28-yard TD dart to Lil’Jordan Humphrey, thrown in stride while eating a hit — gutsy stuff. Oh, and he led the team with 24 rushing yards on three scrambles, showing that dual-threat juice. After the game, Daboll called him “efficient, effective, aggressive, confident in the pocket.”

Wilson’s the starter for now, but with his injury history and the Giants’ 3-14 finish last year, Dart’s pushing the conversation. Fantasy-wise, his rushing floor makes him a late-round stash in two-QB leagues. If he keeps this up, Giants fans might finally have their post-Eli answer.

Shedeur Sanders (QB, Cleveland Browns)

Shedeur Sanders dropping to the fifth round (No. 144) out of Colorado was the draft’s biggest head-scratcher. Son of Coach Prime, Heisman contender, and transformed two different college programs — but scouts still didn't believe that his game would translate to this level. Cleveland took a flier, stashing him behind Joe Flacco, but with backups Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel nursing hamstring tweaks, Sanders got the start against Carolina. Spoiler: he made teams regret passing on him.

He went 14 of 23 for 138 yards, two TDs, a 106.8 rating, and added 19 yards on four carries. No first-team reps in camp, but he still dropped a dime for a score to Kaden Davis between defenders and a 30-yard strike to Luke Floriea under pressure. It was poised, clean football — perfect for Kevin Stefanski’s play-action system. He missed a few of the easier throws and had a few times where he held onto the ball when he didn't need to, but both were very fixable issues.

Reactions to Shedeur Sanders’ debut were widespread and loud—maybe even a little too loud. Nike jumped on the moment with a viral five-word ad: “his time isn’t coming, it’s here.” LeBron James, unsurprisingly, was fired up too. And while Sanders definitely looked calm and in control — especially considering he had zero first-team reps in camp — the broadcast felt absurdly over-the-top at times.

Don’t get me wrong — he played well. He made tight-window throws, showed composure, and absolutely didn’t deserve to fall to the fifth round. But to suggest he should’ve been the first or second overall pick based on this one preseason game? That’s just a reach. He looked like a quarterback who can grow into something special, not one who’s there just yet. If anything, he might’ve already earned the backup job behind Flacco. But the “future of the franchise” takes can chill — for now.

TreVeyon Henderson (RB, New England Patriots)

New England’s offense has been stuck in neutral since Tom Brady bolted, but TreVeyon Henderson’s debut gave some real hope that he can help Drake Maye shift gears. The second-round pick from Ohio State was a scouting darling — 4.43 speed, 2,745 college rushing yards, and a knack for zone reads. NFL.com called him a “make-you-miss” back with third-down chops, drawing David Montgomery comps for his receiving skills.

Against Washington, Henderson exploded: a 100-yard kickoff return TD on his first touch, an 18-yard rush through a hole carved by rookie tackle Will Campbell, and three catches for 12 yards. That’s the kind of versatility that Patriots fans know all too well with legends like Kevin Faulk and James White.

In Mike Vrabel's scheme, Henderson with Rhamondre Stevenson make a pretty dynamic backfield. Fantasy-wise? There's real RB2 upside in PPR leagues, especially with his pass-catching. His college injuries were a concern, but he looked healthy and explosive. If he keeps this up, the Pats might finally have the spark they’ve been missing.

LaJohntay Wester (WR/KR, Baltimore Ravens)

Late-round picks live or die by special teams, and LaJohntay Wester’s debut might’ve locked his roster spot. The sixth-rounder was a slot dynamo in college, with over 1,000 receiving yards in 2024 and a 4.46 40 at the Combine. Scouts loved his twitchiness and YAC ability, though his 5’11”, 167-pound frame raised durability questions.

Against the Colts, Wester’s 89-yard punt return touchdown was pure electricity. Coaches praised his “great movement skills” as a backup WR, able to separate in the slot. Ravens beat writers immediately speculated that Wester might’ve pushed ahead of veterans like Tylan Wallace on the depth chart. As a receiver, he's still buried behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, but if he keeps stacking quality special teams tape, he’s going to be one of those guys who ends up mattering come December.

Cam Ward (QB, Tennessee Titans)

When you’re the No. 1 overall pick, every snap is under a microscope, and Cam Ward handled the glare like a vet. The Miami product, drafted by the Titans after a 3-14 disaster in 2024, brought a sparkling college resume: over 10,000 passing yards, 89 TDs, and a knack for big plays across stints at Incarnate Word, Washington State, and Miami. Brian Callahan’s pass-heavy offense, with weapons like Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett, was built for Ward’s skill set, but the pressure was on to justify the top pick.

In his debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ward played two series, finishing 5 of 8 for 67 yards, leading a 65-yard touchdown drive, and posting an 89.1 passer rating. The first drive was a dud — a three-and-out with two incompletions after a Tony Pollard handoff gained five yards. But the second? That’s where the magic happened. Ward connected with Ridley three times for 50 yards (27, 10, and 13 yards), showing early chemistry. He hit Chigoziem Okonkwo for 10 yards and Lockett for seven on a clutch third-and-6, setting up Pollard’s one-yard TD plunge. No picks, no sacks, and just one pressure on eight dropbacks — clean and composed.

The Struggles: Three Rookies Who Hit Rough Patches

Not every rookie walks off the field to cheers — preseason’s a brutal teacher, exposing the massive gap between college stardom and NFL reality. These three had debuts they’d rather forget.

Graham Mertz (QB, Houston Texans)

Mertz came in late against the Bears and it unraveled fast. He went 7-of-14 for just 27 yards and threw three interceptions — all on consecutive drives in the fourth quarter. The first was a deep ball that sailed way too far, right into a safety’s lap. On the next drive, he forced a throw into double coverage on third down, and it got jumped. The third pick came under pressure — instead of eating the sack or checking it down cleanly, he tried to dump it off as he got hit, and the ball fluttered right to a linebacker.

There were a few clean throws early in his outing, but nothing that moved the chains. He looked like a guy pressing too hard to impress, and once the mistakes started, the snowball rolled fast. The Texans’ playcalling didn’t do him many favors either — a few slow-developing plays into pressure, and not much rhythm early. Still, the reads were late, and the footwork fell apart under pressure. Rough tape, no way around it.

Quinn Ewers (QB, Miami Dolphins)

Ewers got a decent chunk of action against the Bears, but the night started and ended with frustration. He opened with four straight incompletions, including a pair of easy throws that just missed high. On his second drive, he took a strip-sack near his own goal line — the kind that immediately flips momentum — and the Bears turned it into a touchdown.

He did bounce back with a solid series: a 21-yard connection over the middle helped set up a Dolphins score, and he looked a little more settled. But that was short-lived. Another strip-sack — this time while trying to climb a muddy pocket — ended his night. Final line: 5-of-18 for 91 yards, two fumbles, both lost.

Ashton Jeanty (RB, Las Vegas Raiders)

The box score says three carries for –1 yard. The film tells a little more, but not much better. Jeanty’s first run went for three yards, but he got stacked right away and barely squeezed out what he could. His next two carries were dead-on-arrival: one was blown up behind the line by a free linebacker who walked through untouched, and the other had no clear gap at all — he bounced it but lost four.

He didn’t look lost or timid, but he didn’t get a chance to build momentum either. The Raiders’ second-unit O-line struggled all night, and the run calls didn’t exactly give him clean looks. That said, Jeanty also didn’t force any missed tackles or create something out of nothing — which is part of the job for a top-10 pick.

It wasn’t a total disaster, but it was a flat debut with no standout flashes. He’ll need more volume next week to prove it was just a one-off.

The Rookie Rollercoaster’s Just Getting Started

This was just the first step. Preseason’s a small sample — nobody’s booking Pro Bowl trips yet. But it does give us a window into who’s adjusting fast, who needs time, and who might sneak into bigger roles by the time the leaves start changing. These games are auditions, and with three more weeks of tape, the real battles are just heating up. Now, it’s about how they build from here.