Preseason Week 1: Mendoza and Allar lead rookie debuts across NFL
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Drew Allar headlined the opening round of the 2026 NFL preseason on Thursday, as teams assessed new personnel and roster changes.
The 2026 NFL preseason commenced on Thursday, offering the first on-field evaluation of rookies and players joining new franchises. The opening round provided critical data for coaching staffs assessing depth charts ahead of the regular season, with particular focus on quarterback performances and defensive adjustments.
In Las Vegas, the Raiders showcased the transition at quarterback between veteran Kirk Cousins and first overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Cousins completed five of six passes for 50 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown connection with tight end Michael Mayer to open the game. Mendoza followed, completing 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. While Mendoza demonstrated resilience by connecting with rookie wide receiver Malik Benson on a 19-yard pass, he also faced pressure, recording a 42.4 passer rating when pressured and suffering one sack.
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Drew Allar led his team to three touchdowns in his debut appearance. The third-round pick connected with fourth-round receiver Kaden Wetjen on a 74-yard catch-and-run score, followed by a three-yard read-option run and a five-yard touchdown pass to Wetjen. Allar capped his performance with a four-yard pass to rookie fullback Riley Nowakowski. Defensively, sixth-round pick Gabriel Rubio recorded six tackles, while second-round wide receiver Germie Bernard added a 25-yard gain after the catch.
Other notable debuts included Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love, who rushed for 58 yards on 11 carries, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt. Love also contributed three catches for 14 yards. However, the Cardinals faced a setback when second-round pick Chase Bisontis left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury. Wide receiver Reggie Virgil, a fifth-round selection, made a notable one-handed catch for a 24-yard gain.
In Green Bay, rookie kicker Trey Smack converted field goals of 37, 58, and 38 yards, though a Steelers penalty nullified another 58-yard attempt. Quarterback Kyle McCord completed 12 of 14 passes for 102 yards. Meanwhile, in Detroit, Luke Altmyer started at quarterback following the retirement of Teddy Bridgewater. Altmyer went 13 of 21 for 130 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Backup Joshua Dobbs, signed to a one-year deal, completed four of eight attempts for 32 yards as the team evaluates the quarterback2 position.
