NFL preseason Week 1: Fernando Mendoza solid in debut, other rookies also impress on Thursday

The main concern when using starters in preseason games is the risk for injury, and the Cardinals had a small scare in that regard with Jeremiyah Love. Fortunately, the ankle issue he sustained against the Raiders was minor, and he would have been available to return if needed.

Love handled 14 touches in the first half of his debut, which is a significant workload.

The news on rookie offensive lineman Chase Bisontis, however, is more concerning. Coach Mike LaFleur described the situation as "not good" and said the second-rounder will undergo testing on his knee.

Pittsburgh records a 28-9 win over Green Bay in Mike McCarthy's debut as the Steelers' coach. McCarthy received a big night from rookie QB Drew Allar, who scored three touchdowns in his three series of work. 

Led by DC Patrick Graham, the Steelers' defense also had an impressive night, holding the Packers to just 160 total yards. 

It's safe to say that neither coach will be happy with the number of penalties that were thrown. The Steelers and Packers were flagged 11 and nine times, respectively. 

Drew Allar has played extremely well this half. He's currently 8 of 10 for 143 yards with a 152.1 rating. He scored on a short run earlier in the half and just threw his first TD pass, a five-yarder to Kaden Wetjen. 

Steelers quarterbacks tonight are 25 of 30 for 303 yards. 

The Las Vegas defense has no answers for Arizona. A Cardinals team that enters 2026 with one of the league's most underwhelming quarterback situations looks mighty capable with Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew II putting together a perfect first half. The two combined to go 15-for-15 with three passing touchdowns.

• Brissett: 5-for-5, 44 yards, 1 TD
• Minshew: 10-for-10, 79 yards, 2 TDs

Minshew closed out the half with a perfectly placed touchdown strike to Jalen Brooks.

In his first drive, Steelers rookie QB Drew Allar and rookie WR Kayden Wetjen teamed up on a 75-yard completion. Wetjen, a prolific returner during his years at Iowa, is clearly looking to make an impact as a receiver as well. He showcased his blazing speed after catching the ball and turning up field. 

The second drive of Fernando Mendoza's professional debut was a beauty. While the first possession ended in a punt, he immediately bounced back with a 19-yard dart to Malik Benson on the first play of the next series. He threaded the needle through three defenders for his best throw of the day.

That wasn't all. After Mike Washington Jr. picked up 53 yards on the ground, Mendoza led the offense into the end zone. On third-and-goal from the 6, Mendoza connected with Jack Bech for the first touchdown pass of his career.

The biggest play of the first half in the Raiders vs. Cardinals game belongs to a rookie. Fourth-round pick Mike Washington Jr. is in the mix to serve as Las Vegas' No. 2 running back behind Ashton Jeanty, and runs like his 53-yarder will help him land that role.

Jeremiyah Love, making his NFL debut, makes a nifty run through the Raiders defense that included an impressive spin move. The Cards' first score of the night was courtesy of Marvin Harrison Jr. on a pass from Jacoby Brissett. 

Will Howard led a successful two-minute drive that culminated in the Steelers' first TD of the preseason. The drive included a fourth down conversion from Howard to Ben Skowronek. Howard was 5 of 6 for 79 yards in the first half. 

There might not be much to be excited about this year in Arizona, but the Jacoby Brissett-Marvin Harrison Jr. connection could be a fun bright spot in what figures to be a down season. Especially if it catalyzes an elusive breakout campaign for the former No. 4 overall pick from Ohio State.

Brissett put the finishing touches on a 5-for-5, 44-yard passing drive with a touchdown pass to the third-year receiver. He put the ball on the money for Harrison on the 7-yard strike.

Fernando Mendoza will make his preseason debut later in the game, but first, it's Kirk Cousins under center. The veteran will start Week 1 and got the nod on Thursday, too, and if his opening drive is any indication of what is to come, it might take a lot to unseat him from the job.

Cousins went 5-for-6 on the game's first possession and accumulated 50 passing yards while spreading the ball to three different receivers. He capped off the drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Michael Mayer.

Mendoza will undoubtedly take over the starting quarterback duties if things go awry for the Raiders this season. But so long as Cousins plays well, first-year coach Klint Kubiak will not have to rush his prized rookie into action.

Will Howard's long-awaited NFL debut included his first NFL completion. It was a nine-yard completion to Brandon Smith off play action. Howard went 1 of 2 on his first drive. He settled for a short run on third-and-long after he didn't see anyone open downfield. 

Steelers rookie WR Germie Bernard has made some nifty plays in his NFL debut. Pittsburgh drafted him in the second round after missing out on Makai Lemon in the first round. Bernard has caught four of five targets for 51 yards in the first half. 

The Bengals' offensive line took an important step forward last year. To kick off the preseason by allowing a sack on the team's opening possession, however, is not quite the most confidence-inducing start to 2026.

One of the very few things that limited Joe Burrow in the opening years of his career was a lack of protection up front. The starting unit allowed a sack to second-string Lions edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein in an inauspicious first quarter of the preseason opener.

The Patriots will sit most of their starters, including reigning MVP runner-up Drake Maye, but will their new-look receiving unit be on display tonight against the Colts? A.J. Brown went through warmups in full uniform and could benefit from getting live game reps in his new offense.

Brown and Romeo Doubs are tantalizing additions to an offense that wreaked havoc on opponents last year en route to the Super Bowl. The debut of the Maye-Brown tandem will have to wait, but to get a first look at Brown in a Patriots game since he arrived via a blockbuster June 1 trade is another reason to tune in to tonight's matchup with Indianapolis.

Much has been made about the Bengals revamped defense that includes former Giants Pro Bowl DT Dexter Lawrence. The first series of the preseason ended with an interception by DB Jordan Battle. 

Looks like Fernando Mendoza's NFL debut won't be short. Expect a decent amount of work tonight for the No. 1 overall pick. Tonight will be Mendoza's first live reps since he led Indiana win over Miami in the CPF National Championship. 

Steelers QBs Drew Allar and Will Howard are competing to be the No. 3 QB in Pittsburgh.Steelers training camp overreactions: Drew Allar outplaying Will Howard? Is Rico Dowdle the new RB1?, but Will Howard's work ethic might be enough to help him close the gap. 

Specifically, I want to see if Howard can make quicker decisions and have more success downfield. Regarding Allar, I'll be curious to see if he continues to take as many chances during live reps as he has in practice. 

Bears fans will have to wait for Week 1 to see their QB1 play this year, unless they opt to play as the Bears in Madden (which had Williams on their cover for this year). 

Bears coach Ben Johnson explained his reasoning regarding Williams not playing in the preseason on Thursday.  

While he had only a handful of preseason reps during his first several seasons in Cincinnati, Burrow is slated to start tonight's game as he and the Bengals look to get off to a fast start this season. The Bengals have been slow-starting team throughout Burrow's time in Cincinnati, so the thought is that some preseason work for the starters might help the team get out of the gates quicker. 

Thursday will be Klint Kubiak's debut as an NFL head coach, Robert Saleh's first game as the Titans' head coach, Mike McCarthy's first game as the Steelers' head coach and Mike McDaniel's first game as the Chargers' offensive coordinator. 

Ironically, McCarthy's first game as Pittsburgh's coach will be against the Packers, where he coached from 2006-18. 

Cardinals fans will have to wait at least another week to see Carson Beck. Beck won't play tonight as he is dealing with a rib injury that was sustained during last week's Hall of Fame Game. The Cardinals don't believe that the injury is serious. 

Beck was impressive in his NFL debut. He went 15 of 19 for 188 yards with a TD and no interceptions. 

Carson Beck

ARI • QB • #19

View Profile

It doesn't appear that Aaron Rodgers will face his former team tonight. He arrived at Acrisure Stadium roughly 3.5 hours before kickoff but has spent most of his time on the field catching up with friends. 

Assuming Rodgers doesn't go, Mason Rudolph will start for Pittsburgh, followed by rookie Drew Allar and Will Howard. Tonight will be Allar and Howard's NFL debuts; Howard missed all of his rookie preseason after sustaining an injury during the early portion of training camo.