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No rookie quarterback started in Week 1 for the second time in five years, with Fernando Mendoza sitting behind veteran Kirk Cousins in Las Vegas, but a fresh wave of talent took the field for the first time at the NFL level this weekend.
Jadarian Price welcomed the 2026 draft class to the NFL in Wednesday's opener as he received the starting nod in the Seahawks' backfield, but the debut of De'Zhaun Stribling the following night was less successful — Stribling exited early with an ankle injury.
On Sunday, Price's college teammate Jeremiyah Love was among the many first-round picks to get their first taste of NFL action.
Here are the grades for notable rookie debuts in Week 1, from Love to Carnell Tate.
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Jeremiyah Love, Cardinals: C+
It was a terrific day for the Cardinals, who pulled off an upset of the Chargers on the road, but it was a pedestrian debut for No. 3 pick Jeremiyah Love. Love scored an early touchdown and had a 21-yard run, but he rushed for only 20 yards on 10 carries outside of that one run and made only a minimal impact as a pass-rusher.
— NFL (@NFL) September 13, 2026Usage will continue to be a storyline for Love, as Tyler Allgeier earned six more touches in Sunday's win but likewise struggled with efficiency.
Carnell Tate, Titans: B
The Titans' offense looked like more of the same in Week 1, as Cam Ward came under regular pressure from the Jets' defense and wasn't given too much time to work with, and the result was Carnell Tate leading the team in receiving despite only posting 38 yards. While it was a fairly quiet day for Tate, he did get himself open for a bad miss by Ward and gained some separation from Brandon Stephens to haul in his first NFL catch. The Titans' issues go well beyond Ward at this point.
MORE: NFL Week 1 overreactions
Sonny Styles, Commanders: B-
It was an up-and-down debut for Sonny Styles, who wasn't an every-down player for the Commanders. Styles delivered perhaps the best highlight of any rookie in Week 1, blowing up Saquon Barkley to get to Jalen Hurts on his way to two tackles for loss, but he was less effective in coverage. Washington still has to be excited about Styles' skillset as he settles into his role on Dan Quinn's defense.
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 13, 2026Jadarian Price, Seahawks: A-
The Seahawks had to shift their approach a bit when Sam Darnold went down just five plays into the game against the Patriots, but they were never going to put too much on Price's plate in his first NFL game. The former Notre Dame standout wasn't a workhorse in college with Love sharing the same backfield, but he did well to run for 52 yards on 10 carries against a tough New England defense. As long as Charbonnet remains on the shelf, Price has earned the right to continue on as the Seahawks' feature back and could pick up more work in Week 2 with Darnold likely out.
Caleb Downs, Cowboys: A-
Caleb Downs had a big highlight in his first NFL half on Sunday night, as he rocked Jaxson Dart and jolted the ball loose, though it's worth noting he was completely unblocked on the blitz. Dallas will undoubtedly be using Downs in similar packages — his versatility was a major reason why they drafted him — but they'll need him to show what he can do elsewhere after the defense showed some holes in the opener.
— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2026Arvell Reese, Giants: C+
Giants LB Arvell Reese had some disappointing moments during his debut Sunday night, including poor positioning on a Javonte Williams touchdown run, but he showcased the speed and athleticism that made him a top-ten pick on this play:
ARVELL REESE pic.twitter.com/jNdKPLzb63
— Hasty (@HastyHighlights) September 14, 2026MORE: NFL Week 1 winners and losers
Kenyon Sadiq, Jets: B+
Kenyon Sadiq scored the Jets' first touchdown of the season on an end-around, credited as a rushing touchdown, but he also hauled in three catches on three targets for 21 yards. There is plenty of growth ahead for Sadiq, who was drafted more for his physical traits than for his college production, but this is a solid start for a player who was always going to need some time to settle in.
Rookie TE Kenyon Sadiq reached a top speed of 20.09 mph on his 3-yard TD run, the fastest play by a Jets tight end as a ball carrier in the NGS era (since 2016).#NYJvsTEN | #JetUp pic.twitter.com/sx5voebKac
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 13, 2026David Bailey, Jets: A
The Jets' defensive front had a nice day all-around against the Titans, but No. 2 pick David Bailey was especially impactful with six pressures and a sack of Cam Ward.
The sack was a bit of a technicality, as Bailey only pushed Ward out of bounds before the line of scrimmage, but he made his presence felt in his first NFL game.
Makai Lemon, Eagles: D-
It was a completely forgettable Sunday for Lemon, who had three catches for -5 yards on four targets. The only upside was an impressive block that helped extend a Jalen Hurts run, but the Eagles are going to need more than just blocks to keep him on the field.
This block from Makai Lemon saved the game pic.twitter.com/C4DSwxzDl6
— Joe Pezz🇵🇷🦅 (@joepezz_) September 13, 2026KC Concepcion, Browns: B
Concepcion and fellow rookie Denzel Boston led the Browns in receiving yards in an otherwise ugly game against the Jaguars, and Concepcion was the most targeted Cleveland pass-catcher of the day. The rookie from Texas A&M had a bad fumble in the loss, but he hauled in four catches for 43 yards on five targets and was used in a gadget-like role with three touches for 15 yards out of the backfield. Once the Browns figure out how to get the ball to their weapons, Concepcion should be able to remain productive.
Rueben Bain Jr., Buccaneers: C-
The Buccaneers didn't get much out of Bain in his debut, as the rookie from Miami didn't generate a pressure against Joe Burrow and the Bengals. He wasn't alone, as Tampa Bay only sacked Burrow once but LB Josiah Trotter (one sack, one pick-six) was the Buccaneers rookie defender who looked like a playmaker on Sunday.
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