NFL Preseason Week 1 standouts

While many headline players did not suit up for the first week of preseason action, there were many individuals who relished the opportunity to shine outside of training camp joint practices. We’ll take a look at a few players who made a name for themselves during the first slate of exhibition contests.

Dell had one of the best highlights of the week, as he made a juggling catch for a touchdown against the New England Patriots. In addition to being a highlighted part of the passing game, Dell was also a factor on special teams. After the game, head coach DeMeco Ryans said that they were excited to get the ball into his hands.

It didn’t take long for Moore to find himself in the good graces of Bears fans. He took the first catch of his Chicago tenure 62 yards for the touchdown. It was essentially a screen pass that the wide receiver did most of the work on, weaving through defenders to get into the endzone. He’ll be the number one option in the passing game for the Bears this year.

With the release of Dalvin Cook, the Vikings figure to hand over primary duties to Alexander Mattison. There are some questions about the depth behind Mattison, by Chandler handled himself well in the preseason opener. He recorded 70 yards from scrimmage, 41 of which came on the ground. His performance might be enough for Minnesota to opt against signing a veteran back.

All eyes will be on Love this season as the Packers close the door on the Aaron Rodgers era. To Green Bay’s credit, the coaching staff installed a pass-heavy gameplan against the Cincinnati Bengals to see what Love could do, and he played well. He delivered a perfectly thrown pass to Romeo Doubs to cap an impressive drive.

After Love exited, it was Wilson who showed out later in the contest. The running back displayed explosive playmaking ability, turning six carries into 111 yards and two touchdowns. That production included an 80 yard scamper. Green Bay appears set in their backfield with A.J. Dillon and Aaron Jones, but Wilson might give the front office something to consider during final cuts.

There are a lot of fans who think the Steelers offense will take a major leap in 2023, and Pickens is a big reason why. The second-year wide receiver did nothing to dissuade believers in the first preseason game. He took a Kenny Pickett pass 33 yards to the house, and put a sensational move on a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive back in the process.

In that same game, the Buccaneers were hoping to get closer to deciding who their starting quarterback would be heading into the regular season. Mayfield acquitted himself much better than Kyle Trask. The former number one overall pick didn’t turn the ball over, and made a great throw to Trey Palmer for a touchdown.

Hamlin’s return to the field can’t be measured by snaps or tackles. His career and his life flashed before his eyes after he went into cardiac arrest in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January. In what has been a miraculous recovery, Hamlin capped off an amazing story by playing against the Indianapolis Colts in the preseason opener.

The Jets offense looked lifeless for much of the first half against the Carolina Panthers, but Abanikanda showed burst and agility when he toted the rock. He had a run that took New York to the one-yard line right before the first half ended, which set up a Zach Wilson touchdown pass. Abanikanda might see some action if Breece Hall is unable to begin the season.

Vaughn has made some headlines for his lack of height, but he stood out amongst the giants with his play. Vaughn was elusive against the Jacksonville Jaguars, handling eight carries for 50 yards and a touchdown. He was also deployed in the return game, where he brought a kick back 30 yards.

Austin Ekeler figures to handle a massive workload for the Chargers this season, but it’s anyone’s guess as to who will back him up. Dotson made a strong case for the number two job, as he ran for 92 yards on six carries. He also reached the endzone twice on the ground. If Dotson doesn’t make it to the regular season, other teams will be interested in his services.