NFL Preseason Week 1 Recap – Rookies Shine, History Made, and One Scary Moment

last week

The first week of the 2025 NFL preseason gave fans exactly what they crave in August: promising rookie debuts, veterans shaking off the rust, jaw-dropping plays you’ll be hearing about for months, and unfortunately, one moment that reminded us all just how dangerous the game can be.

From a record-setting 70-yard field goal to a rookie defensive “menace,” here’s the complete rundown of all the action.

Thursday Tripleheader

Ravens 24, Colts 16 – Rookie Keaton Mitchell broke free for a 22-yard touchdown, sparking Baltimore’s ground game.
Other notes – Backup QBs and fringe roster players had plenty of snaps, giving coaches good film for evaluations.

Friday Highlights

Lions 17, Falcons 10 – The game was overshadowed by a serious injury to Lions safety Morice Norris Jr. (see deep dive below).
Browns 30, Panthers 10 – Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders was poised and efficient, throwing two TDs while showing off his mobility.

Saturday Showcases

Giants 34, Bills 25 – Rookie QB Jaxson Dart had a strong debut, and the Giants’ defensive line dominated (full breakdown later).
Vikings 20, Texans 10 – JJ McCarthy looked comfortable in his first action back from injury.
Rams 31, Cowboys 21 – Backup QB competition heating up in Los Angeles.
Steelers 31, Jaguars 25 – Jaguars rookie Travis Hunter made his long-awaited two-way debut, while Jacksonville kicker Cam Little drilled an unofficial NFL-record 70-yard field goal.
Bucs 29, Titans 7 – Tampa’s defense suffocated Tennessee’s offense.
Jets 30, Packers 10 – Jets rolled behind strong QB play from backups.
Cardinals 20, Chiefs 17 – Patrick Mahomes played just one series, but made it count with a quick TD.
Broncos 30, 49ers 9 – Denver leaned heavily on a punishing run game.

Sunday Matchups

Bears 24, Dolphins 24 – Preseason overtime rules meant this one ended in a tie. Multiple rookies made their mark (deep dive below).
Chargers 27, Saints 13 – LA’s depth chart looked sharp across the board.

Deep Dives

Morice Norris Injury – Lions vs. Falcons

Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris Jr., an undrafted rookie from Fresno State, went down after making a tackle late in the game. He required nearly 20 minutes of on-field care before being stretchered off and rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital. The game was suspended with 6:19 left in the fourth quarter.
Thankfully, Norris was later reported stable, alert, and moving all extremities, even posting on social media that he’s “all good” and thanking fans for prayers. It was a frightening moment, but early signs point to a full recovery.

Travis Hunter’s Two-Way Debut – Jaguars

The Jaguars’ No. 2 overall pick, Travis Hunter, showed why he’s one of the most hyped prospects in years. He lined up at wide receiver for 10 snaps, making two catches for 9 yards, and at cornerback for 8 snaps, where he showed strong coverage instincts but also had a missed tackle.
Hunter admitted to some pregame nerves, saying, “I was a little nervous at first … but after the first play, I was good.” His coaches praised his adaptability, and fans are already buzzing about how Jacksonville might deploy him this season.

Bears vs. Dolphins – Rookie Highlights

This rare 24–24 preseason tie was anything but dull:

Bears DE Austin Booker had a monster game: six tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, four QB hits, and a forced fumble. Head coach Ben Johnson called him “a menace.”
Rookie WR Luther Burden III contributed 29 yards on two catches, while Maurice Alexander’s acrobatic 4-yard TD grab drew big cheers.
For Miami, Tua Tagovailoa was razor-sharp in his single series, Zach Wilson led two scoring drives, and rookie QB Quinn Ewers delivered a late-game comeback effort capped by a 56-yard field goal to tie it.

Giants Defensive Line – Buffalo’s Nightmare

In the Giants’ win over Buffalo, the front four looked midseason-ready:

Rookie Abdul Carter pressured the QB on all three pass rush snaps.
D.J. Davidson and Jordon Riley each tallied sacks.
Undrafted rookie Trace Ford recovered a key fumble and posted an elite 84.3 pass-rush grade.
LB Micah McFadden earned the team’s top defensive grade (92.1), with a crucial pass breakup in limited snaps.
Pair that with Jaxson Dart’s 154-yard, 1-TD debut, and it’s safe to say New York left this game feeling pretty good about its depth.

Quick-Hit Highlights

Cam Little (Jaguars) drilled a 70-yard field goal—the longest ever in an NFL game environment (preseason or regular).
Patrick Mahomes looked like… Patrick Mahomes. One drive, one TD, goodnight.
Shedeur Sanders (Browns) is already turning heads with his poise.
Rams and Broncos both looked like teams that could surprise people this year.

Final Thoughts

Preseason results don’t count in the standings, but Week 1 showed us who might be this year’s breakout stars, who’s ready for the big stage, and just how thin the line can be between glory and danger on the football field. Next week, expect more roster battles to heat up—and maybe even more history in the making.