After five dreadful months, or what feels like eternity for fans, the National Football League’s preseason is finally here. NFL rookies have sprung onto the scene. Some put on a great performance, others not so much. Though some rookies have had exceptional performances, they were playing against 2nd string, 3rd string and undrafted players.

One rookie who had a stellar performance was the Cleveland Browns’ 1st overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.  Quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 11 passes and slung the ball for 212 yards with two touchdowns. In addition to his air attack, he rushed three times for 29 yards.

Another standout performance came from Saquon Barkley, the 2nd overall pick for the New York Giants. He rushed for 43 yards in 5 attempts. On his first snap in his NFL career he gained an impressive 39 yards.

Lamar Jackson, the former Heisman Trophy winner, had a good showing in the 2nd game of his rookie season for the Baltimore Ravens. He completed seven passes for 119 yards. In addition, he rushed for 21 yards and a touchdown in five attempts.

Also, Shaquem Griffin, a linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks had an exceptional pro debut. Against the Colts he racked up six solo tackles and three assisted tackles leading his team with nine total tackles. He stuffed the run and got to the receiver. On his first four snaps he obtained four tackles.

One surprising performance by an undrafted rookie was by Ralph Webb, a running back for the New England Patriots. He was signed by the Pats as an undrafted free agent after the 2018 draft. Though he only rushed for 46 yards in 14 attempts, in the final quarter he changed the course of the game. He scored two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions to put New England ahead and win the game.

While rookies had great performances, there were also some exciting games. One was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers versus the Miami Dolphins. The game started off with a 7-3 Bucs lead. By the 4th quarter, the Miami Dolphins were down 23-16. But just under two minutes left, Bryce Petty threw a 6-yard touchdown and completed a 2-point conversion putting them up 24-23. With less than two minutes on the clock and no timeouts, Ryan Griffin led a valiant drive from their 25-yard line and ended with a field goal. That put the Bucs up 26-24. The following drive ended with Petty throwing an interception, which sealed the Bucs’ victory.

Another great game involved the New England Patriots versus the Washington Redskins. By halftime, the Redskins were up 17-3. In the next half, the Patriot defense held them scoreless and Ralph Webb’s two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions put them ahead to win the game 26-17.

This first week of preseason has brought good things for NFL fans. Football is back, rookies are on the scene and teams are now in preparation to see who will proudly hold up the Lombardi Trophy in 2019.