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5 months after listening to their names referred to as on draft night time — six inside the first 12 picks — the league’s rookie quarterbacks are on to the NFL gridiron.
Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels had been named starters early, and Bo Nix additionally received the beginning nod. Drake Maye is sitting behind veteran Jacoby Brissett, and identical goes for Michael Penix Jr. behind Kirk Cousins. J.J. McCarthy is out for the season due to a torn meniscus in his proper knee.
As these six quarterbacks have progressed via camp forward of their first NFL season, all of them have discovered themselves in various levels of their younger careers.
After Week 1’s video games, we look at what they did — or did not — do and the place the six sit headed into the remainder of the season.
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (Spherical 1, decide 1)
Week 1 vs. Titans: 14-of-29, 92 passing yards, 0 TD passes, 0 INT
What is the total impression to this point?
Williams has been QB1 since day one among arriving in Chicago and confirmed all through the preseason how an improve at quarterback can elevate the Bears’ offense.
His first begin, a 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans, was lower than stellar (14-of-29 for 93 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT) however proved that Chicago can experience the wave of early-season ups and downs which can be anticipated with a rookie quarterback by leaning on its particular groups and protection.
“We all the time need to be the spark of the workforce,” cornerback Tyrique Stevenson stated after his pick-six sealed the Week 1 win for Chicago. “We all know Caleb coming in was going to have his ups and downs. This may not have been the sport he wished, however we’re simply his kickstand. We received him and he received us.”
What is the teaching workers saying?
Matt Eberflus desires Williams to “play level guard” on early downs and early in video games, which suggests leaning on the gamers round him.
That wasn’t typically the case throughout the former Heisman Trophy winner’s profession at USC, the place Williams typically had to enter overdrive to steer the Trojans to shootout wins. Discovering the steadiness between doing the routine effectively and figuring out when to tug out particular performs, as Williams has demonstrated together with his accuracy on the transfer, requires putting a steadiness and the time to learn the way to take action.
“Whenever you begin a rookie quarterback, which we’re doing, he will have ups and downs, good moments and different moments,” Eberflus stated after the sport versus the Titans. “Like I stated we have now to only play effectively round him. Be sure that the operation’s clear, ensure that we do not flip the ball over and provides individuals brief fields and free performs. It is OK to finish the sequence with a kick.”
What is the forecast for the season?
The primary 10 weeks of the season will enable Williams to see how he stacks up head-to-head towards six first- or second-year quarterbacks (Will Levis, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, Bryce Young, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye).
Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron views managing expectations for the rookie quarterback as one among his principal priorities in serving to Williams acclimate to the NFL.
“The every day enchancment and every day excellence is all we’ll concentrate on,” Waldron stated.
There are no statistical marks the Bears are publicly eyeing for a quarterback who goals to grow to be the franchise’s first 4,000 yard passer, however so long as Williams is the rationale Chicago wins video games, the workforce feels assured within the path it is headed.
Stat to know
Regardless of admittedly not taking part in his finest within the Bears season opener, Williams turned the primary quarterback drafted No. 1 total to win a sport in his first begin since David Carr in 2002. — Courtney Cronin
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (Spherical 1, decide 2)
Week 1 at Buccaneers: 17-of-24, 184 passing yards, 0 TD passes, 0 INT
What is the total impression to this point?
Robust. Daniels impressed teammates with how he approached the spring exercises and nothing modified within the ensuing months. They liked that he reveals up on the facility at 5:45 a.m., watching movie and infrequently conducting his personal mini walk-throughs to higher be taught performs.
Teammates additionally pointed to Daniels’ play, mentioning his fast supply, ball placement and accuracy. Daniels additionally has impressed teammates by how he is carried out himself with the veterans. He talks on a regular basis with tight finish Zach Ertz after performs, in addition to chat with linebacker Bobby Wagner about what the protection is seeing.
“It is laborious to not get excited the way in which he is are available in and simply been so ready,” receiver Terry McLaurin stated. “I’ve performed with numerous first-time quarterbacks and he performs like this isn’t going to be his first time taking part in on this league.”
What is the teaching workers saying?
Daniels did not show to be a savior within the opener. However there is no purpose to consider Washington has modified its thoughts one bit on Daniels.
At one level in August, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury stated Daniels was forward of the place they thought he’d be when it comes to figuring out the offense.
“He should research it like loopy at night time as a result of each morning after we get right here and he walks via with us, he nails it,” Kingsbury stated. “So that you simply respect the work he is placing in. He is paying the fee to try to get the place he desires to get and that is all you possibly can ask from younger participant.”
4 days earlier than the opener Kingsbury stated, “He is fairly laid again, chill cat, however when he steps on that discipline he is making an attempt to tear your head off.”
Washington coach Dan Quinn stated they pressured to Daniels that he didn’t should be the workforce chief instantly.
“I wished him and his teammates to get to know him in a very cool and genuine manner. And that’s who he’s,” Quinn stated. “He is a competitor, he is a superb teammate, he is on his stuff. That is what I wished his workforce to see. Nothing the place he needed to tackle a management mantle that he did not have to but. That’ll come.”
What is the forecast for the season?
Higher than it has been shortly. The laborious half to know is how Washington’s offense will match collectively. Of their 26 gamers on offense, 15 are newcomers. Offensive coordinator in Kliff Kingsbury can be in his first season with Commanders.
“We’ll have some hiccups, clearly, as a result of we received to get into sport situation conditions,” McLaurin stated. “However it’s simply his pure really feel for the sport that is accelerated the method.”
Washington desires to reduce the burden on Daniels by emphasizing the run sport with Brian Robinson Jr. as the first again and Austin Ekeler on third downs. However, the Commanders do not feel they should child Daniels for lengthy.
“He’ll be actually, actually good and it is not going to be a type of issues the place it may be good in a couple of years,” Ertz stated.
“He is actually good proper now.” — John Keim
Drake Maye, New England Patriots (Spherical 1, decide 3)
Week 1 at Bengals: Backed up Jacoby Brissett
What is the total impression to this point?
Drake Maye placed on a late cost for the beginning job over the past two weeks of preseason. However ultimately, the totality of labor from veteran Jacoby Brissett — in addition to his expertise within the system — had been deciding components in naming him starter. Maye has thrown the ball effectively and his footwork has improved since his arrival.
What is the teaching workers saying?
First-year head coach Jerod Mayo stated issues modified for Maye when he stopped being as deferential to Brissett and actually turned up the warmth within the competitors. That change came about round mid-August previous to the second preseason sport. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt referred to Maye’s work as “spectacular” and famous “he is pushing” in the direction of a doable breakthrough.
What is the forecast for the season?
Brissett’s efficiency will likely be a consider figuring out how rapidly Maye would possibly see the sphere. If Brissett struggles early within the and Maye continues to ascend, it can enhance requires a change. On the identical time, Mayo stated he would not need Brissett to really feel like he is all the time trying over his shoulder and referred to him because the workforce’s starter “this season.”
How will the remainder of the offense consider?
The Patriots’ offensive line has been in flux, and there’s no elite receiver, which pertains to one thing government vice chairman of participant personnel Eliot Wolf has stated. Every time the Patriots do flip to Maye, they need to ensure that they’re placing him in the perfect place to succeed with the fitting items round him. Seeing how that manifests itself early within the season provides a layer of context to the decision-making course of on when to presumably insert Maye into the lineup. — Mike Reiss
Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons (Spherical 1, decide 8)
Week 1 vs. Steelers: Backed up Kirk Cousins
What is the total impression to this point?
Great arm expertise and a fast launch. Michael Penix Jr. has been capable of present that off in follow, working with the second workforce. He had some inconsistency in the summertime, however his enchancment in that regard has been noticeable. Penix solely performed for one half of 1 preseason sport, so he has not gotten sufficient stay reps to color all the image.
What is the teaching workers saying?
Quarterback coach T.J. Yates, himself a former quarterback, stated signalcallers are all the time higher going into Yr Two. Penix has already regarded improved since OTAs and he seemingly will not be seeing the sphere in 2024 and maybe past. The Falcons are hoping when Penix does begin, succeeding Kirk Cousins, that he’s 100% prepared for primetime.
What is the forecast for the season?
Penix will likely be on the bench and getting second-team reps in follow with Cousins beginning. If one thing occurs to Cousins, who’s 36 years outdated and coming off a torn Achilles, Atlanta is anticipating Penix can take the ball.
How will this QB develop as a frontrunner?
Penix’s locker on the Falcons’ follow facility is correct subsequent to the locker of security Jessie Bates III, a workforce captain and one of the revered gamers at his place within the league. That is not accidentally. Bates has labored on his management abilities within the offseason and Penix might actually be the beneficiary. — Marc Raimondi
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings (Spherical 1, decide 10)
Week 1 at Giants: Accidents, DNP
What is the total impression to this point?
The arrow was pointing in the fitting path by the point J.J. McCarthy reported soreness in his proper knee Aug. 12, finally resulting in season-ending surgical procedure for a torn meniscus.
The Vikings had tweaked a few of his footwork and different fundamentals throughout spring OTAs, resulting in some shaky follow intervals.
However McCarthy remained in Minnesota between the tip of mini-camp and the beginning of coaching camp, throwing with former Vikings receiver Adam Thielen amongst different native execs, and demonstrated fast enchancment throughout coaching camp.
His closing on-field look was a two-touchdown efficiency within the first week of the preseason, an outing that urged he was on his solution to claiming the beginning job sooner quite later.
What is the teaching workers saying?
Even after McCarthy’s abbreviated coaching camp, and a complete of 30 preseason snaps, coach Kevin O’Connell stated McCarthy “had began to actually appear like an NFL quarterback.” O’Connell added: “I actually consider that J.J. has sort of confirmed to me and numerous our coaches and gamers that we received the fitting man within the constructing for the longer term, and he did it in a brief period of time.”
What is the forecast for the season?
The Vikings will search for methods to proceed McCarthy’s growth whereas navigating the NFL’s strict guidelines for gamers on season-ending injured reserve.
The preliminary harm left McCarthy utilizing an electrical scooter to maneuver across the workforce facility, however even when he recovers sufficiently, he’ll be prohibited from collaborating in any a part of follow.
He can attend conferences and movie classes, nevertheless, and the Vikings will script an individualized developmental program via the winter and into the spring with the concept he may be their 2025 starter. — Kevin Seifert
Field Nix, Denver Broncos (Spherical 1, decide 12)
Week 1 at Seahawks: 26-of-42, 138 passing yards, 0 TD passes, 2 INT
What is the total impression to this point?
Virtually from the second Nix was chosen within the draft, Broncos coach Sean Payton has lauded Bo Nix‘ maturity, expertise (61 school video games mixed at Auburn and Oregon), accuracy and talent to keep away from sacks.
When Payton formally named Nix the starter on Aug. 21, the rookie had not taken a sack or thrown an interception in two preseason video games whereas main the Broncos to factors on seven of the eight possessions he performed.
Put that every one collectively and Payton, along with his workers, are prepared to stay with the inevitable rising pains as a result of they consider Nix has the power to deal with any bumps on the training curve.
What is the forecast for the season?
The Broncos’ first month of the season just isn’t a straightforward NFL introduction for Nix. The Broncos play on the street in three of their first 4 video games and all 4 video games are towards groups with head coaches with lengthy, profitable defensive backgrounds — Mike Macdonald, Mike Tomlin, Todd Bowles and Robert Saleh. The Broncos will even keep within the Jap Time Zone between their Week 3 sport in Tampa and the Week 4 sport on the Jets. So Nix’s introduction is about as troublesome as it may be, particularly if the Broncos aren’t able to run the ball as typically or as effectively as Payton has promised they’d for Nix. — Jeff Legwold
