Ranking rookie QB performances from Week 1 of preseason: Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Drew Allar among best
You only get one chance to make a first impression, and for rookie NFL quarterbacks, their best chance at that impression comes in the preseason. This year, the Cardinals ' Carson Beck and the Panthers ' Haynes King got things off to a sizzling start in the Hall of Fame Game. Beck -- a third-round pick out of Miami -- went 15-for-19 for 188 yards and a touchdown in a thoroughly impressive performance , but King -- undrafted out of Georgia Tech -- got the last laugh, diving in for a game-winning touchdown on the final play. Think the preseason is boring? Think again! Unfortunately, neither Beck nor King could make any sort of second impression this week, as both were dealing with injuries. Still, there were 15 rookies playing their first (unofficial) NFL game. Here's how they fared. (And yes, I watched every single dropback by these players. Really.) The stat line just about says it all for Virginia Tech product Kyron Drones , who got cut shortly after the game. Kyler Baugh was HYPED after the sack 😤 🎥: NFL+ #UFLtoNFL pic.twitter.com/eiT21jv0yu Miller Moss missed on his first five passes before completing his final three. He did show nice touch on his last throw, a 22-yard strike to Ray-Ray McCloud . The Louisville product is currently the Bears ' No. 4 quarterback behind Caleb Williams , established backup Tyson Bagent and veteran journeyman Case Keenum , so he's likely hoping for a practice squad spot at best. With no Drake Maye , the Patriots started Tommy DeVito and then brought in Behren Morton in the third quarter. Morton had some short misses that he'd like to have back, but he also delivered a few nice throws. This tight-window completion to Kobe Prentice was his best. Behren Morton to Kobe Prentice for a big gain! 📺 WBZ pic.twitter.com/9RgAkGP0Oe The Falcons ' miserable last two weeks didn't get any better Friday night, when they got thumped by the Broncos 27-7. Tua Tagovailoa looked awful. Cooper Rush looked even worse. Michael Penix Jr . still isn't fully playing or practicing. We will give Jack Strand some credit, though: At the end of a brutal game, he at least got Atlanta on the board with a 1-yard quarterback sneak. Via usereliprod pic.twitter.com/JY6uPkObqO Nice moment for a guy out of Division-II Minnesota State-Moorhead. Former Illinois standout Luke Altmyer played almost the entire game for the Lions , and he was mostly fine, especially for an undrafted rookie who had to face several Bengals starters at first and then second-stringers as well. His first interception wasn't his fault: Isaac TeSlaa bobbled a well-thrown ball. The second pick was just barely out of the reach of Dominic Lovett . Altmyer threw his first (unofficial) NFL touchdown to Tarik Black late. Luke Altmyer to Tarik Black for the Lions TD Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/8asXzMWVYf Expected to be a mid-round pick, Garrett Nussmeier nearly slid out of the draft completely before the Chiefs nabbed him. The former LSU signal caller got plenty of opportunities to show he should have gone earlier and was generally solid. He had a few impressive moments, including this nice scramble-drill improvisation for Nikko Remigio ... Rookie QB Garrett Nussmeier with a nice little throw on the run. LARvsKC on @NFLnetwork Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/pD4tho6MTk ... and this dart to Jared Wiley . Another dime on the run from the rookie Garrett Nussmeier LARvsKC on @NFLnetwork Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/x6aqxHi5N4 He also took a very rookie-like sack by Desjuan Johnson and got up gingerly Down goes the QB 😤 📺 @CBSLosAngeles | 📲 https://t.co/R5m5kJYp8K pic.twitter.com/mgjDacnX4j Unfortunately, what could have been one of the biggest plays and highlights of Week 1 wasn't meant to be. Nussmeier lofted a deep ball to Jason Brownlee , who had gotten behind the defense, but it got broken up at the last moment (or, depending on your vantage point, dropped). Nussmeier is behind Patrick Mahomes and Justin Fields in the pecking orde [... truncated ...]
