We begin every Monday by checking in on how players, coaches and teams are trending across the NFL. It’s usually bad for Browns fans. Today is no exception.
This article is from The Athletic’s NFL newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox. It’s free to subscribe.
NFL Preseason Week 1 risers
Judging the NFL preseason is the football equivalent of reading tea leaves. You’re squinting, trying to make sense of the chaos to somehow predict the future.
It helps! Week 1 of the 2025 preseason made it clear that the Patriots were legit. By Week 2, it looked like the Seahawks’ running game would be a force. Prescient.
It confuses! Instead of thinking the Chiefs’ offense was unstoppable after it rolled through Chicago’s first-team defense last preseason, we should’ve been more focused on the Bears’ shortcomings.
What are the preseason tea leaves showing us after this Week 1?
📈 Giants rookies. First-round linebacker Arvell Reese looks like an instant star in New York. The Ohio State product was a standout in training camp, and while his debut wasn’t perfect, it had everything you want to see from a top-five pick. Watch each snap here.
Third-round receiver Malachi Fields is also among the Giants’ biggest risers after catching all three of his targets for 34 yards and this touchdown.
“That’s one of the reasons we drafted him,” Giants coach John Harbaugh said. “Most red zone touchdown passes are extended and/or plus scrambles. You’ve got a quarterback who can move around and find a guy, got a guy who can go make a play. That’s how you score a lot of those touchdowns.”
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Fields offers a Tee Higgins-like threat opposite Malik Nabers, and he should be the Giants’ WR2 before long. Fantasy managers take note.
📈 QB Ty Simpson. Matthew Stafford’s successor looked comfortable, mobile and operational, per our Nate Atkins, who summed up Simpson’s debut with the Rams:
“They often say that you can’t tell who can play in the NFL in the preseason, only who can’t. Simpson didn’t look like a guy who can’t play, and that was the goal.”
Sean McVay clearly had the training wheels on Simpson, with most of his pass attempts within 10 yards, but he still finished with an impressive completion rate (21-for-25) for 190 yards, two touchdowns and a 125.0 rating. Promising.
📈 Josh Allen ➡️ D.J. Moore. It’s clear where Moore sits in the Bills’ pecking order: on top. He saw four targets from Allen, catching three for 61 yards (on just six routes). This was the highlight.
Moore is a threat downfield and with the ball in his hands, which should mesh well with Allen and coach Joe Brady. (Moore also seemed to avoid a major injury after a scare.)
📈 Vikings offense. Kevin O’Connell wants to run the ball and watch smooth quarterbacking. Minnesota gave him neither last year. But he saw both in Kyler Murray’s debut drive, with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason gashing the Giants defense as Murray led the Vikings to a field goal.
📈 RT Lane Johnson’s successor. Remember the name Markel Bell. The Eagles spent a third-round pick on the rookie right tackle, whose massive 6-foot-9, 346-pound frame, strong training camp and preseason debut hint at the promise here. Brian Baldinger is a fan.
📈 Broncos defense. It forced Atlanta into seven punts and two interceptions on the Falcons’ first nine possessions. Maybe Atlanta’s offense is just that bad?
Preseason Week 1 fallers
📉 Falcons offense. Tua Tagovailoa has the upper hand in the quarterback competition, but only by default, because Michael Penix Jr. has yet to be cleared for 11-on-11. Tagovailoa led two short drives, both ending in punts, and had just one first down against the Broncos. He finished 3-for-5 for an uninspiring 22 yards.
📉 Cardinals rookies. It’s bad. How bad? First-round running back Jeremiyah Love has a high ankle sprain and is out for the preseason. Second-round guard Chase Bisontis will miss the year with a torn MCL. Third-round quarterback Carson Beck has a rib injury. Fourth-round defensive end Kaleb Proctor is out for 2026 with a knee injury. See what I mean? Awful.
📉 Concerns for Jaxson Dart. Dart has had an up-and-down camp by most reports. His preseason debut was also a roller coaster, one that included a stint in the medical tent after this hit.
Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. deserves blame for that. But Dart’s long-term durability was questioned last season, and this does nothing to quell concerns. Growing pains in Matt Nagy’s new offense or a sign of what’s to come? He had some excellent moments in this game, for what its worth.
📉 Shedeur Sanders. For now, it sounds like Cleveland’s starting quarterback job is Deshaun Watson’s to lose. From our Zac Jackson:
“Watson has been first in every practice line since the spring. … He started the first preseason game … and guided the team’s only two scoring drives.”
Zac notes that Sanders will start in Week 2 of the preseason and that the competition should continue for at least another week. Watson (fumble), Sanders (INT) and third-stringer Dillon Gabriel (INT) each had a turnover.
📉 WR Isaac TeSlaa. Last year’s preseason riser had a slow start to training camp and underwhelmed in his preseason debut, causing an interception after his first target hit him in the hands. TeSlaa’s hands had made up for his inability to separate, but now both seem at issue. Our Lions stock report has more.
📉 Grass in Buffalo. Bills players graded the old stadium’s turf an F in last year’s NFLPA report card. The new stadium’s grass field? “Ass,” said one player who didn’t want to be identified. It begs the obvious question: (Gr)ass or turf? They’ll take the grass, per another player Tim Graham spoke with. “A couple spots kind of chunked up a little bit, but it’s better than playing on turf.”
Advice: How to coach
Doing something for the first time is difficult. It’s true whether you’re hanging a TV in your apartment or coaching an NFL team.
If you’re doing the former, buy a stud finder. Don’t try to guess where the stud is by drilling holes. Trust me.
And if you’re coaching an NFL team for the first time, read Mike Jones’ story on five rookie head coaches sharing lessons.
Jeff Hafley, Dolphins: “When I got hired at (Boston College), I was just turning 40 years old, and I probably was not ready. I don’t know if anybody’s truly ready their first time.”
Klint Kubiak, Raiders: “The biggest challenge is … managing the game and managing the game plan throughout the week.”
Jesse Minter, Ravens: “It’s a major jump in time management and setting a schedule that you feel like is the best for everybody, and that’s almost impossible.”
The full story offers a candid look at how first-time coaches are setting a foundation.
Extra Points
👀 Daniel Jones is ready. The Colts quarterback is trying to become the rare player to return to form in the first year after an Achilles injury. Peek into his process here.
📺 Drew Allar tape. The Steelers’ rookie quarterback had a remarkable preseason debut, right? Mike DeFabo dug into the tape. One thing is clear: Mike McCarthy is helping.
🚩 Coaches’ challenges: Do we still need them? Jason Lloyd doesn’t think so. “The NFL already removes the coaches’ role during the final two minutes, precisely when a missed call can do the most damage.”
⭐ Cowboys sign Von Miller. The 37-year-old edge joins Dallas on a one-year deal worth up to $7.5 million. He quietly had nine sacks with the Commanders last season. Smart signing.
▶️ Most-clicked: A YouTube video of Jeremiyah Love’s spin move. We love highlights.
📫 Enjoyed this read? Sign up here to receive The Athletic’s free NFL newsletter in your inbox.
Also, check out our other newsletters.
