The primary week of the 2025 NFL Preseason is formally within the books, and there may be a lot to speak about within the aftermath of the league’s first 16 video games. From spectacular rookie debuts to devastating damage information, and all the things in between, let’s run down the listing of probably the most fascinating storylines to come back out of Week One of many NFL Preseason.
Sensational Shedeur Sanders
In three quarters of gameplay, rookie quarterback and fifth-round draft choose Shedeur Sanders seemed like he belonged within the NFL, finishing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He additionally tacked on one other 19 yards on the bottom.
After two punts and a turnover on downs, Sanders acquired on the board by connecting with huge receiver Kaden Davis over three defenders for a seven-yard landing go. Two drives later, Sanders discovered Davis once more at the back of the tip zone for a 12-yard TD.
“Happy with Shedeur, happy with the offense,” said Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski after the game. “Once more, not excellent, a lot that we will work on. However I believed the fellows did a very nice job with Shedeur and working, the fellows making performs, so, once more, a ton to show off of.”
Anthony Richardson’s damage
The Indianapolis Colts are already coping with an damage to their former number-four total draft choose and quarterback, Anthony Richardson. On the second drive of the sport, Richardson took an enormous hit from an unblocked defender and was pressured to go away the competition as a result of an damage. It was later revealed that he suffered a dislocated pinky through the hit, ending his day early.
“It was bizarre,” Richardson told ESPN. “He hit me, then I used to be attempting to verify I had the ball, and I simply seemed down. I noticed my finger in a special route. I’m like, ‘Perhaps I’m tripping.’ And I checked out it once more. It was undoubtedly like that.”
The excellent news for Colts followers is that Richardson returned to practice two days after suffering the injury. He was in a position to resume organized crew actions as regular.
Joe Burrow and Tanner McKee get right into a shootout
There was some superb quarterback play between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Philadelphia Eagles. In simply two sequence because the starter, Joe Burrow went 9 for ten passing with 123 yards and two touchdowns, together with a 36-yard TD to huge receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
Nevertheless, it was the Eagles’ starter, Tanner McKee, who actually lit up the scoreboard. The previous sixth-round choose accomplished 20 of his 25 go makes an attempt for 252 yards and two passing touchdowns in addition to a one-yard dashing landing.
“It felt good. I felt like we have been shifting the ball, which is at all times enjoyable,” McKee said following the win. “Clearly, we’ll watch the movie, you by no means actually know till you watch movie. You by no means actually know till you watch movie and also you’re like, ‘Oh crap, I missed that,’ or no matter. However total, moved the ball effectively. Had a whole lot of guys that made nice performs. So, the sensation is sweet.”
TreVeyon Henderson Does It All
Though I was admittedly skeptical when the Patriots used the 38th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on running back TreVeyon Henderson, the previous Ohio State Buckeye was electrical in his first NFL sport. He took the opening kickoff 100 yards to the tip zone on his first NFL contact to place the Pats forward 7-0 after simply 12 seconds of gameplay.
Although he wouldn’t discover the tip zone once more, Henderson nonetheless managed to hurry for 18 yards whereas catching three passes for an additional 12 yards, to carry his scrimmage complete for the sport to 130 yards on simply 5 touches (26 yards per contact).
“Being within the NFL, being a younger man, second-round draft choose, it’s a whole lot of strain, and generally it’s onerous with all that strain being on you, however the largest factor is, I attempt to preserve my eyes on the Lord,” Henderson told reporters after the 48-18 win. “I do know, it doesn’t matter what occurs, I can come out right here and provides it all the things that I acquired, and whether or not I’ve an excellent observe, dangerous observe, good sport, dangerous sport, I do know God loves me and He’s at all times right here with me. And so, that simply motivates me to maintain going every single day. I’ve my ups and downs as effectively. Some practices are good, some practices are dangerous, however I simply attempt to continue to learn and getting higher.”
Russell Wilson and Jaxson Dart each look spectacular
The New York Giants have been in a position to beat the Buffalo Payments 34-25 due to constant quarterback play from Russell Wilson and rookie Jaxson Dart. Although he didn’t rating a landing, Wilson accomplished six of his seven opening-drive go makes an attempt for 28 yards, which acquired the Giants shut sufficient to attain a subject aim.
After that first drive, Russell Wilson was changed by Jaxson Dart, who picked up 19 yards on his first possession. On the Giants’ subsequent sequence, Dart threw a 28-yard go to huge receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey for his lone landing of the afternoon. Dart ended up going 12 for 19 passing with 154 yards and a landing.
“It’s about what I believed he would do,” mentioned head coach Brian Daboll. “Environment friendly, efficient, aggressive, assured within the pocket.”
Cam Ward leads a scoring drive in restricted motion
It was an unpleasant loss for the Titans. Nevertheless, the number-one total choose within the 2025 NFL Draft and Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward seemed very promising as he led the Titans on a scoring drive regardless of solely enjoying two possessions.
In his first sequence, Ward missed on his first two go makes an attempt, leading to a three-and-out. On Tennessee’s subsequent drive, Ward performed significantly better, finishing 5 of six passes for 67 yards, which ultimately led to a one-yard landing run from operating again Tony Pollard.
“Cam performed effectively within the two sequence he acquired. Form of a bizarre first half, with solely three possessions. Had one three-and-out and led a landing drive. I believed he seemed good, began to really feel a bit bit snug, was begging to return in, however that wasn’t within the playing cards for tonight, said head coach Brian Callahan after the game. “I believed he did some good issues, and it was encouraging.”
Justin Fields will get on the board
He was solely given one drive to show he has what it takes to guide this crew, and Justin Fields handed that take a look at with flying colours. He accomplished three of 4 passes for 42 yards and in addition juked his method into the tip zone for a 13-yard landing run in what would find yourself being a beatdown of the Inexperienced Bay Packers because the Jets prevailed 30-10.
“There have been a few shot performs that we known as, and he did a very good job simply taking what the protection gave him,” mentioned New York head coach Aaron Glenn. “We love the place he’s at proper now. Does he have a methods to go? Completely, he does. Is he going to proceed to work? Completely, he’ll as a result of that’s simply who he’s. However we all know precisely the place he’s at, we all know precisely the place we’re going, and we’re going to proceed to work our ass off till we get there.”
Has Tyler Shough pulled forward in New Orleans?
The Saints performed all three of their quarterbacks, who’re presently vying for New Orleans’ beginning job. Jake Haener was underwhelming, finishing simply 5 of eight passes whereas throwing an interception.
Spencer Rattler stood out within the sport, although. Not solely was he the beginning quarterback on the crew’s first drive, however he additionally accomplished seven of 11 passes for 53 yards whereas selecting up one other 22 yards on the bottom. Sadly for him, he took three sacks.
Lastly, there was second-round draft choose Tyler Shough, who linked on 16 of his 22 passes for 165 yards and a landing. Nevertheless, he threw an interception that was returned for a landing and was additionally sacked twice.
“I believe for all three, there’s going to be some good moments, there’s going to be some moments we wish to have again. We get to study from these, get higher this week. I believed Spencer did some great things popping out of there, utilizing his toes in some conditions the place he had some averted zone areas,” said head coach Kellen Moore after the loss. “Tyler performed a bit bit extra simply between the second and third quarter. An incredible two-minute drive proper earlier than the half. He did some actually good issues there. He felt below management if I managed the conditions actually, very well. You throw a choose, you bought to reply. Clearly, nobody desires to throw an interception. The way in which he responded was actually, actually good for him to come back again and deal with that from an emotional standpoint very well. I believed that was superior, after which he made an enormous play on the tip there.”
Cam Little with (what would have been) a record-breaking kick
I don’t imagine these attending the Steelers-Jaguars sport knew that they’d see an all-time kicking second. Placekicker Cam Little hit a 70-yard subject aim to finish the primary half, shattering the earlier report of 66 yards set by Justin Tucker in 2021.
There was just one drawback: the kick was made through the preseason, which suggests it gained’t formally go into the NFL report books, so Justin Tucker’s 66-yarder nonetheless stands as the present benchmark for kickers. The unhappy half is that if it had been a 71-yarder, Little nonetheless would have made it. That’s how highly effective his kick was.
“He needed it, so we gave it to him,” Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said at halftime. “That was fairly cool for Cam, you want that one would’ve gone within the report books.”
Perhaps, if Little is fortunate, he’ll get to try a 67-yard subject aim through the common season, which might break the present report. Though nothing will ever examine to that 70-yard bomb Cam Little made on August ninth, 2025, which is unofficially the longest profitable subject aim in NFL historical past.
