The future of the NFL shone brightly this past week as five first-round rookie quarterbacks showcased their talents in their preseason debuts, offering a tantalizing glimpse into what’s to come for football fans and franchises alike.
Caleb Williams: A Promising Start for the Bears
Caleb Williams took the field for the Chicago Bears with confidence, displaying poise and precision. Despite the pressure of turning a third-and-long, Williams connected with wide receiver D.J. Moore for a crucial 12-yard gain. His standout moment, however, came with a spectacular 42-yard pass to running back D'Andre Swift. Although the Bears' drive ended with a red zone stop, kicker Cairo Santos ensured points on the board with a 30-yard field goal. Williams wrapped up his brief but impactful appearance completing 4 of 7 passes for 95 yards and added a 13-yard scramble to his stats.
Jayden Daniels: A Flawless Entrance
Jayden Daniels had an equally exhilarating debut. His first NFL pass might have soared over Austin Ekeler's head, but he quickly rebounded, finding wideout Dyami Brown for a 42-yard gain that electrified the crowd. Daniels capped off his drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, exemplifying his dual-threat capability. His night concluded successfully, completing 2 of 3 passes for 45 yards and securing one touchdown run.
Drake Maye: Flash of Potential
Drake Maye also made his presence felt, although his time on the field was brief. Maye completed two of his three attempts for 19 yards. His first NFL attempt was a pressure-packed third-and-12 conversion to Antonio Gipson, which demonstrated his ability to perform under duress.
Michael Penix Jr.: Consistency Leads the Falcons
Michael Penix Jr. played with notable consistency for the Falcons over five possessions in the first half against Miami. He directed two scoring drives and completed 9 of 16 passes for a solid 104 yards. A standout moment was his impressive 41-yard pass to Chris Blair, which illustrated his capacity for big plays. Penix Jr.’s performance was steady and gave the Falcons a much-needed uplift on both fronts.
J.J. McCarthy: Combating Adversity
J.J. McCarthy faced a roller-coaster evening. His maiden pass attempt was a clean 18-yard completion to Jalen Nailor, but that was quickly overshadowed by an interception on his second throw, taken by Raiders cornerback Jack Jones. Still, McCarthy showed resilience by coming back in the second half and throwing a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jackson. As Kevin O'Connell put it, “Clearly, everybody can see the arm talent. I loved seeing him come right back after the interception and still be aggressive.” McCarthy closed his debut with 188 yards, completing 11 of 17 passes.
Bo Nix: Leading the Broncos with Precision
Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos capped the display of rookie prowess, leading the team to score on four out of five drives. Completing 15 of 21 passes for 125 yards, Nix also showcased his mobility with an 11-yard scramble. Nix threw his first touchdown pass to Marvin Mims, solidifying a strong start. He reflected positively on the game, stating, “It was a good day. I thought we ran the ball efficiently, made some good plays in the pass game, converted some third downs, got points when we needed to; it was a good job going into half with points and coming out with points, felt like that was a good point in the game. Overall, thought we did a good job, huge team win.”
The reaction from veteran and coaching staff was pointed. Sam Cosmi admired Williams' calm under pressure, remarking, “He made a check mid-play. It turned out to be a big gain. We bunkered down and really went in there. He was calm and collected, which is what you want to see, and it was really impressive. We all sat on the sideline, and we were like, 'Dang, that was really fun.' So, I think everybody should be very excited just from that little sneak peek right there.”
Similarly, Raheem Morris praised McCarthy's ability to learn and adapt on the fly, saying, “He wants one of those throws back that he threw on the sideline, but he was able to go through some progression. He was able to progress. We get a little pass happy with him since he's a first-round quarterback. It was fun to see him go out there and execute some of the pass plays, and we were able to get some of the stuff done. ... Pretty much, a really good night for him, and I was really pleased with what he was able to do.”
This preseason display by the rookies has undoubtedly raised expectations and excitement for the upcoming NFL season. With each quarterback delivering moments of brilliance, fans and teams alike have plenty to look forward to as these young stars continue their NFL journeys.