Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason has come to a close, marking one more week down before the start of the season on September 4.
With cut day — August 27 — fast approaching, teams are in constant evaluation mode throughout training camp. However, the most significant opportunity to stand out from the pack is on game day, where the extra adrenaline and pressure either makes or breaks players.
Chicago Bears
DE Austin Booker
A fifth-round pick in 2024 who played sparingly as a rookie, Austin Booker opened eyes in his debut performance as a sophomore. Along with recording three sacks, doubling his rookie season total, he strip-sacked Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers, leading to a Chicago Bears touchdown.
Thanks to a strong training camp and standout effort in the first game of preseason, Booker will seemingly be a fixture in the Bears’ defensive line rotation, with more pass-rushing opportunities expected to come.
Cincinnati Bengals
TE Tanner Hudson
The Cincinnati Bengals have an exceptionally crowded tight end room. Mike Gesicki is entrenched as the starter, and Noah Fant, Drew Sample, Erick All Jr., and Tanner Hudson all compete for reserve roles.
Hudson made his case to be on the final roster against the Philadelphia Eagles, as he caught and recorded team-highs in catches (six) and reception touchdowns (two), with his 62 receiving yards coming in second only to Ja’Marr Chase’s 77 yards. His two touchdown receptions equaled his five-year career total.
Not known as a receiving tight end, Hudson showcased a side of his game that should give him a great chance to make the final roster and potentially become a deceptively reliable piece of the Bengals’ passing attack.
Buffalo Bills
QB Mike White
Competing for the backup spot behind 2025 MVP Josh Allen, Mike White impressed in limited action against the New York Giants. In four second-half series, White completed eight of his 13 passes for 112 yards and a pair of touchdowns — including several displays of athleticism that led to pivotal conversions.
None were more impressive than his 4th & 4 conversion, as he rolled right and found a wide-open receiver deep down the field for a 39-yard score, giving Buffalo the lead on the ensuing extra point.
Mike White today:
-8/13
-112 passing yards
-2 touchdown passes
-0 interceptionsThe former WKU QB continues to prove why he belongs in the NFL pic.twitter.com/E7jGo9UCnF
— Barstool Western (@BarstoolWestern) August 9, 2025
If White can’t unseat Mitchell Trubisky, Buffalo’s backup from a season ago, he could be viewed as a trade candidate around the league as a viable spot-starter.
Denver Broncos
WR Trent Sherfield Sr.
There were many bright spots in the Denver Broncos’ 30-9 stomping of the San Francisco 49ers, but wide receiver Trent Sherfield Sr.’s breakout game may be important to the team this season.
A career reserve who’s caught just six touchdowns in seven seasons (while playing for four teams in the last four seasons), Sherfield is looking to find stability and consistently contribute to an offense. Denver needs pass catchers; Sherfield’s three-catch, 73-yard, and a touchdown day inspires confidence that he could be a part of the solution.
Cleveland Browns
QB Shedeur Sanders
We’ve heard it all before: preseason doesn’t mean anything. However, for a player of Shedeur Sanders’ makeup, whose draft day (turned draft weekend) plummet made headlines amid character questions, his first showing as a pro was a welcome sign.
SHEDEUR SANDERS PUT ON A SHOW IN HIS PRESEASON DEBUT ⌚️ pic.twitter.com/yEhAL5YUxy
— ESPN (@espn) August 9, 2025
The 2025 fifth-rounder got the start in the Cleveland Browns’ preseason opener, and he diced the Carolina Panthers’ defense up, completing 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. He also compiled 19 yards on the ground before being pulled late in the third with the Browns holding a two-touchdown cushion.
It’s hard to imagine a better start for Sanders.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
RB Owen Wright
With Rachaad White suffering a groin injury in the first quarter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running backs Sean Tucker and Owen Wright did the heavy lifting for the rest of the game. While Tucker carried the ball 13 times for 50 yards and a score, it was Wright who stole the show in recording 18 attempts for 87 yards and a touchdown of his own.
A 5’9″, 217-pound second-year back out of Monmouth, Wright spent last season on the Baltimore Ravens’ injured reserve and hasn’t yet recorded an official NFL carry. But he showed that he can handle a near 20-attempt load and do it efficiently, averaging 4.8 yards per rush.
Wright’s performance will go a long way towards helping him make the final roster.
Arizona Cardinals
G Isaiah Adams
The presumed starting right guard for the Arizona Cardinals, coming off just five starts as a rookie, much is expected from Isaiah Adams in year two. And in the preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, Adams proved the coaching staff correct with the sentiment that he can hold it down at that spot full-time.
Isaiah Adams backed up the training camp hype last night pic.twitter.com/HWca0lZC9Z
— Theo Mackie (@theo_mackie) August 11, 2025
At 6’4″ and 315 pounds, Adams is known as a mover in the run game. While he showed that, he demonstrated an improved pass-blocking ability, making his presence more invaluable for the Cardinals.
Los Angeles Chargers
LB Caleb Murphy
A third-year undrafted linebacker, Caleb Murphy, has mainly been a core special-teams player in his short tenure in the league. But entering his second season with the Los Angeles Chargers, he’s making a significant case to be a featured depth pass rusher after amassing two sacks and a forced fumble against the New Orleans Saints.
He’ll still be behind Khalil Mack, Bud Dupree, and Tuli Tuipulotu, but Murphy has a real chance to leap fourth-round rookie Kyle Kennard for the fourth spot.
Kansas City Chiefs
P Matt Araiza
Matt Araiza had about as good a day as a punter can have in the NFL against the Cardinals: in five boots, he totaled 285 yards (57.0 average and a long of 68) with two punts landing inside the 20-yard line.
Though they don’t expect to punt much with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, the Chiefs have an absolute weapon as their punter. Araiza has an innate ability to flip the field from anywhere he punts it.
Indianapolis Colts
S Hunter Wohler
For a defense as a whole, it’s not always the best sign when a safety leads the team in tackles. But it’s a signal for the player that they sought out the ball-carrier and took them down. Hunter Wohler was that player for the Indianapolis Colts in their preseason opener against the Ravens, as he led the team with nine total tackles, six of which were solo.
The 232nd pick in this year’s draft out of Wisconsin, Wohler should be a lock to make the final roster thanks to his nice first game impression. It’ll be intriguing to see how he fares over the next two games as he competes for more play time once the season starts.
Washington Commanders
T Josh Conerly Jr.
Debuting as a right tackle for the Washington Commanders after being at left tackle at Oregon, Josh Conerly Jr. exceeded expectations in preseason Week 1. In 14 pass-blocking snaps, he allowed just a single pressure and stood out in several run-blocking sequences.
After the game, Commanders coach Dan Quinn lauded his work ethic before saying this about his rookie tackle: “I know what I felt from watching the practice tape. I sense I’m in that same space again. Like I said, I felt strong with him in the first performance.”
A lot will be placed on Conerly’s plate this season as a protector of 2025 Rookie of the Year quarterback Jayden Daniels, but early returns suggest he’s on a good path.
Dallas Cowboys
RB Malik Davis
The Dallas Cowboys’ running back room is a question mark now, with a combination of Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, and rookie Jaydon Blue expected to share the load. But with all three missing the preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams, second-year back Malik Davis popped, carrying the ball seven times for a game-high 63 yards.
He showed an explosion that Cowboys running backs lacked a season ago, consistently recording positive runs. A fringe roster guy, Davis earned himself more carries in the final two Dallas preseason games, as he deserves more of a look by the coaching staff.
Miami Dolphins
RB Ollie Gordon II
After an awe-inspiring 2023 campaign at Oklahoma State, Ollie Gordon II was seen as a solid day two pick in the 2025 draft. But after a disappointing 2024 season, he fell to the sixth round, with the Dolphins scooping him up at pick No. 179.
Against the Bears, Gordon flashed his talent in leading the team with 33 rushing yards and a score, along with reeling in a 39-yard pass reception. The running back room is relatively thin with just De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright ahead of Gordon, who has made some noise this season.
Philadelphia Eagles
QB Tanner McKee
We are all Saquon Barkley after watching Tanner McKee’s red-hot preseason showing against the Bengals.
Great photo of Saquon reacting to Tanner McKee’s incredible preseason performance where he completed 20-25 passes for 252 yards, 3 total TDs and 0 turnovers. 🔥
(📸: Mitchell Leff of Getty Images) pic.twitter.com/AZrjUxkUME
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) August 8, 2025
The Eagles opened the door this offseason for McKee to be quarterback Jalen Hurts’ backup after trading last year’s backup, Kenny Pickett, to the Cleveland Browns. McKee proved them right and then some, throwing for 252 yards and two touchdowns with just five incompletions. He also perfectly executed a tush-push rushing touchdown, just for good measure.
A strong argument could be made that McKee played the best football of any player in all of preseason Week 1.
Atlanta Falcons
LB Josh Woods
Entering his seventh season in the NFL, Josh Woods has not established himself as a consistent contributor. But if he can keep up his play from the Atlanta Falcons’ first preseason game, he may be in line for more reps than ever.
Though the game was suspended due to injury, Woods recorded game highs in total tackles (seven) and solo tackles (six), repeatedly finding himself opportunities to finish the play. He also forced a fumble, making the sort of splash play that catches the eye of coaches.
San Francisco 49ers
S Marques Sigle
Marques Sigle is a name that may not mean much now, but will soon become a fixture on Sundays come the fall. A fifth-round rookie, Sigle has been impressive during 49ers camp and continued that sentiment against the Broncos, amassing seven total tackles, five of which were solo. He sustained a knee injury, but it isn’t considered significant.
Coach Kyle Shanahan, when asked whether Sigle has a chance to start at safety: “Yeah, I’d say so,” he answered. “I think there’s a lot of open competition there. I thought he had an excellent game, special teams, and on defense, so that I wouldn’t rule him out for that.”
New York Giants
T Marcus Mbow
Swinging between left and right tackle, Marcus Mbow played arguably the best football out of the New York Giants’ 2025 draft picks. In 35 snaps per PFF, he allowed just a single pressure — a nice number for veterans, forget rookies.
Mbow locked up whichever side he was on, anchoring and locking up his matchup. He was mobile and powerful in the run game, bulldozing several defenders on the outside. The Giants have invested heavily in their offensive line, with Mbow, a 2025 fifth-round pick, potentially having the most potential of all.
Jacksonville Jaguars
K Cam Little
While it may seem like a referendum on the lack of Jacksonville Jaguars that excelled, considering kicker Cam Little takes this spot, this is solely Little’s doing. In case you missed it, coach Liam Coen sent him out for a 70-yard field goal attempt to end the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
And he drilled it. If it were in the regular season, Little would’ve set the record for longest field goal in NFL history by an astonishing four yards. And he had room to spare, with the ball falling cleanly through the goalposts.
Good morning to everyone named Cam Little.@FastTwitchDrink | #PITvsJAX pic.twitter.com/ygwsriNtEg
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 11, 2025
Though it won’t officially go down in the record books, Little revealed himself as having one of, if not the biggest, legs in the entire league.
New York Jets
DT Jay Tufele
Newly signed to the New York Jets, Jay Tufele dominated his debut with his new squad as he enters his fifth season. Against the Packers, Tufele registered 1.5 sacks, a tackle for loss, two QB hits, plus a fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown.
He opened eyes in New York, proving himself as a player who always finds himself near the ball. In a position group alongside All-Pro Quinnen Williams, Tufele looks like he’ll be a factor along the line of scrimmage for the Jets.
Detroit Lions
QB Kyle Allen
Primarily a backup in his seven years as a pro, Kyle Allen is locked into a quarterback battle with 2023 third-round pick Hendon Hooker to be the Detroit Lions’ backup behind incumbent Jared Goff. Allen, who threw two interceptions in the Hall of Fame game, took a significant leap ahead in Detroit’s second preseason game.
The Falcons’ secondary was carved up by Allen, who completed seven of eight passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a perfect passer rating of 158.3. He also carried the ball twice for 10 yards.
Regardless of what Hooker did (seven of 10 for 38 yards), coach Dan Campbell and Co. should be satisfied with the steady manner in which Allen played against the Falcons.
Green Bay Packers
RB/KR Israel Abanikanda
A running back on offense, Israel Abanikanda has used his kick-returning abilities as an avenue towards making the Green Bay Packers’ final roster. Against the Jets, he returned five kicks for 147 total yards, good for 29.4 per return and with an extended return of 36 yards.
The 5’10”, 217-pounder is hard to bring down while also possessing game-breaking speed. He also carried the ball six times for 19 yards, giving the Packers insurance in the backfield once the season begins.
Carolina Panthers
OLB Nic Scourton
The Carolina Panthers needed pass rush help in the draft, and they got it by plucking Nic Scourton in the second round with the 51st pick. His first showing as a Panther was extremely promising, as the former Texas A&M standout registered a sack and two tackles — both of which came behind the line of scrimmage.
At 6’2″ and 257 pounds, Scourton uses his athleticism and quickness to his advantage, bending the corner against tackles and putting pressure on the quarterback. He figures to be Carolina’s defensive line rotation this season.
New England Patriots
WR Efton Chism III
Efton Chism III, a standout in New England Patriots camp as an undrafted wide receiver out of Eastern Washington, continued his dazzling play against the Commanders. He led the Patriots in all three receiving categories, totaling six catches for 50 yards and a touchdown.
🔥 Rookie Efton Chism III continues to turn heads in Foxborough. Undrafted and under-the-radar, he’s been impressing both fans and Patriots staff — putting in the work, showing elite slot skills, and climbing the depth chart with urgency. A UDFA to watch. #Patriots… pic.twitter.com/mArumapqea
— Gridiron State (@GridironState) August 11, 2025
Despite that, Chism faces an uphill battle to make the final roster, with New England’s receiving corps crowded. Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, and 2023 third-rounder Kyle Williams are seen as surefire picks to make the final roster.
That leaves Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, 2024 second-rounder Ja’Lynn Polk, 2024 fourth-rounder Javon Baker, and Chism to compete for the final few spots. It’s a stiff competition for the undrafted Chism, but he’s making a strong case for himself to beat out the aforementioned quartet.
Las Vegas Raiders
LB Jamal Adams
When Jamal Adams signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, it wasn’t to be a safety — a position he excelled at early in his career but had underperformed during the past couple of seasons. Instead, as a weak-side linebacker, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham could deploy his speed to track down ball-carriers.
RELATED: Raiders HC Pete Carroll Reveals Major Position Change for ‘Aggressive and Tough’ 3-Time Pro Bowler
That’s precisely what he did against the Seattle Seahawks in the Raiders’ preseason opener, tallying three solo tackles in limited first-half snaps. A question mark once training camp began, he looks to be a lock to make the 53-man roster and will be a nice weapon at Graham’s disposal.
Los Angeles Rams
S Nate Valcarcel
Undrafted out of Northern Illinois, Nate Calcarcel is a prime candidate to stick with the Los Angeles Rams on cut day. He showed his skills in the Rams’ first preseason game, totaling a game-high 10 tackles, including five solo. He also defended a pass from his safety position.
Calcarcel was extremely rangy on the back end, displaying tremendous hustle and constantly putting himself in position to make plays. That’s precisely the type of hunger that undrafted players have to have to make it in the NFL, something that Calcarcel appears to be on track for.
Baltimore Ravens
RB Keaton Mitchell
A torn ACL in Week 15 of the 2023 season knocked Keaton Mitchell out for much of the 2024 season. But the explosive running back showed he’s back to form against the Colts, carrying the ball nine times for a game-high 68 yards and scoring from 22 yards out.
Mitchell would be a dream backup to the bruising style of starting back Derrick Henry; now healthy, he’ll be able to take some of the load off of Henry, 31, and be a true change-of-pace presence alongside quarterback Lamar Jackson in the backfield.
New Orleans Saints
DE Fadil Diggs
The New Orleans Saints’ 27-13 loss to the Chargers was largely uninspiring, save for a few bright spots. Fadil Diggs was among those routinely in the Los Angeles backfield. He recorded three solo tackles and a sack, a promising first showing for the 254th pick in the 2025 draft.
The Syracuse product is pushing to be in the pass rush rotation alongside Chase Young, Carl Granderson, and Cameron Jordan.
Seattle Seahawks
QB Jalen Milroe
The concern coming out of Alabama for Jalen Milroe was whether or not his accuracy could hold up as a starter in the NFL. While he didn’t completely extinguish those concerns in one preseason outing, completing six of 10 passes for 61 yards, he showed the talent he has with his legs.
Seahawks QB Jalen Milroe: Every Throw and Run from preseason debut vs the Raiders 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sWpk6cpOLL
— awthentik (@awthentik) August 8, 2025
He ran the ball three times and totaled 38 yards, giving a sneak peek into how he could positively affect the Seattle Seahawks on the field during his rookie season.
Pittsburgh Steelers
QB Skylar Thompson
Challenging McKee for the top stat line of the week is Skylar Thompson, who completed 20 of 28 attempts for 233 yards and three touchdowns against the Jaguars. He showed poise in the pocket that he hadn’t previously shown early in his career with the Dolphins.
While he had a tremendous showing, Thompson still faces questions over whether or not he’ll make the Pittsburgh Steelers’ final roster. Aaron Rodgers is the starter, but backup Mason Rudolph has a $3 million guarantee in his contract, and 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard (sidelined with a hand injury) isn’t expected to be cut.
Regardless, Thompson showed an improved version of himself and would be a top target if he became a free agent.
Houston Texans
T Aireontae Ersery
Aireontae Ersery’s NFL debut was a rollercoaster of emotions, with a homecoming element, as the Houston Texans traveled to Minnesota to face the Vikings. Ersery played his college ball with the Golden Gophers. The nerves were surely flowing for Ersery — but he didn’t show it.
Occupying the left tackle position for multiple drives, Ersery stonewalled pass rushers and showed deft mobility, delivering an impressive debut. The 2025 second-round pick figures to be Houston’s opening day starter at left tackle, a significant task but something he looks ready for.
Tennessee Titans
QB Cam Ward
The first series for Cam Ward was nothing to write home about, as the Tennessee Titans went three and out. But the 2025 top pick engineered Tennessee’s only scoring drive of the night in his second time out, completing five of six passes on the drive for 67 yards.
Aside from working out some kinks on the first drive, Ward looked the part. He seemed to be in control of the offense and showed nice pocket awareness. The arm angles he used to throw the ball rivaled the creativity of Matthew Stafford, an exciting preview of when Ward will start for the Titans in Week 1.
Minnesota Vikings
S Kahlef Hailassie
Kahlef Hailassie, who began his career as a cornerback but has been converted to safety in defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ scheme, made two of the biggest plays of the day when the Minnesota Vikings faced the Texans.
With Hailassie in deep coverage, Houston quarterback Graham Mertz floated a pass over the middle right into the hands of the Vikings safety, returning it and putting his team in scoring position. Under five minutes later, Hailassie found himself in the right place at the right time once again, as Mertz’s pass was tipped up into the air and into Hailassie’s hands.
Although he is not guaranteed to make the final roster, if the third-year safety can continue to make splash plays, he very well could make the Vikings’ opening-day squad.
