NFL Preseason 2015: Best Player from Each Team in Week 1

For as long as there are still four weeks of the preseason, we will be paying close attention and ranking them all. 

Some stars didn't play for a variety of reasons, and others played just one drive, but a few players who were fighting for a roster spot made some noise and opened some eyes. This list won't be all notable names, as some previously unknown players made a splash during Week 1 of the preseason.

While the preseason is usually just a tuneup for the regular season, and safety is really only the biggest concern, some players, such as Johnny Manziel, have a lot to prove in the coming weeks. This past week was their chance to prove their worth to their coaches. 

Here are the best players from each team in Week 1, along with the player who made the second-biggest impact on that team. 

Arizona Cardinals: Carson Palmer

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

Carson Palmer looked sharp in his return from injury.

Carson Palmer was elated to just be back on a football field once again. 

"It's been a long time coming," he said, per Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. "It's been a lot of days since I saw this day in the future. It's just great to be back with the guys and obviously great to go down and be efficient and score."

Palmer tore his ACL for the second time of his career on Nov. 9, forcing him to miss the rest of the season. The 35-year-old was perfect in his return to the gridiron, completing all four of his passes for 77 yards. 

Realistically, the results don't matter as much as the fact that he played again. Still, a perfect night is still very encouraging, as there were likely some concerns about his play aside from the health. His first preseason touchdown will be the next item on his checklist.

Second best: Tyrann Mathieu 

Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan

David Goldman/Associated Press

Matt Ryan is entering his eighth season in the league.

There isn't much for quarterback Matt Ryan to prove in the preseason, as all of the next steps he can take as a franchise QB will come in the playoffs.

Regardless, starting your preseason with a 10-play, 91-yard drive is impressive. 

Ryan completed all six of his passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. The TD pass was to wideout and familiar target Julio Jones, with whom Ryan had connected a total of four times on the drive. 

Ryan and Jones are one of the league's best quarterback-wide receiver duos. The duo made the leap into that conversation on the heels of Jones' career-best 1,593 receiving yards a season ago. They'll be an interesting pair to watch in 2015, as Ryan looks to return the Falcons to the postseason after a disappointing 4-12 2014 season.

Second best: Julio Jones

Baltimore Ravens: Bryn Renner

Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

Bryn Renner won the game with his feet.

Much like the night of Jacksonville's Stephen Morris, quarterback Bryn Renner wasn't all too impressive before his game-winning drive.

Despite finishing the night 6-of-14 with an interception, Renner drove 80 yards in one minute, 54 seconds and scored a game-winning touchdown with just two seconds remaining. His one-yard touchdown rush gave the Ravens a 30-27 win.

After his interception earlier in the quarter, Renner was dying for another chance to get the ball.

“I was champing at the bit,” Renner said, according to Garrett Downing of BaltimoreRavens.com. “I didn’t want to cost this team a loss tonight. We played so well for three quarters and for me to come in and throw an interception was a letdown for the team.” 

He eventually made up for it with his storybook ending in Week 1.

Second best: Za'Darius Smith

Buffalo Bills: Bryce Brown

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

Bryce Brown is reunited with fellow running back LeSean McCoy.

Former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy may have been the runner whom everyone was talking about, but it was another former Eagle who stole the show. 

Bryce Brown rushed for a game-high 52 yards on six carries, including a four-yard touchdown run. He added two receptions for five yards. 

Brown was one of eight players to attempt a rush for the Bills, although he was the one who made the biggest impact. Buffalo figures to run the ball a lot this season under new coach Rex Ryan, who will employ a ground-and-pound offense to accompany his solid defense.

The hope is that the running game will overcompensate for any issues in the passing game and be able to put enough points on the board to win football games. If Brown can provide any sort of support as a reserve for McCoy, that's definitely a positive for Buffalo.

Second best: EJ Manuel

Carolina Panthers: Joe Webb

Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK, NY - AUGUST 14: Joe Webb #14 of the Carolina Panthers tries to throw the ball as B.J. Larsen #69 of the Buffalo Bills tackles him behind the line during the second half on August 14, 2015 during a preseason game at Ralph Wilson Stadium in O

He hasn't appeared in a regular-season game since 2012 and is blocked on the depth chart by Cam Newton, but let's not steal Joe Webb's thunder.

Webb had a very good night that ended with his game-winning 54-second drive. He did it all when it really counted. 

After getting possession with 1:48 remaining, Webb completed all four of his passes for 83 yards and also mixed in an eight-yard scramble. He ended his evening with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Wegher and then a successful two-point conversion pass to Paul Browning. 

Webb's 107 passing yards were a game high. While his chances of seeing the field this season are slim, Webb is proving that he may be a reliable backup for either the Panthers or another franchise.

Second best: Brandon Wegher

Chicago Bears: Senorise Perry

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Senorise Perry made an impact in Week 1 of preseason.

Jacquizz Rodgers got the start in place of Matt Forte, but Senorise Perry was the running back who stole the show.

Perry, who didn't have a single carry last season, rushed for a game-high 89 yards on 10 carries, including a 54-yard touchdown run to put an exclamation point on the victory.

Although he is not currently listed as one of the four running backs on the Bears' depth chart, Perry can use the preseason to get noticed around the league. A dominant Week 1 has him on track to do just that, and he will look to repeat his performance this week against the Colts. 

Even though ESPN.com's Jeff Dickerson reported Forte said he expects to make his preseason debut in Week 2, Perry should still get some carries.

Second best: Sherrick McManis

Cincinnati Bengals: Andy Dalton

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Andy Dalton shredded the Giants.

Andy Dalton only had one drive on the evening, but he made it count. Dalton made quick work of the Giants defense, charging up the field and scoring a touchdown in less than three minutes.

He completed all three of his passes for 31 yards and a touchdown. The TD pass was a three-yarder to Mohamed Sanu.

Dalton has to prove he's an elite quarterback this season, as his 19 TDs from a season ago were the lowest mark of his career. Chris Strauss of USA Today laid out Dalton's struggles in prime time—a growing concern he will need to overcome in 2015.

He isn't a quarterback without question marks, but he has a top target in A.J. Green, a great running back duo in Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard, and a strong defense. The Bengals are giving Dalton all the help necessary to take the next step. 

Second best: Nico Johnson

Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel

Maybe Johnny Manziel wasn't really good in Week 1, but it was only an illusion thanks to his past struggles.

"Manziel is starting from so far down that putting one touchdown on the board in five possessions looks like improvement," wrote Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal.

It's a harsh take that may have some merit.

Still, Manziel did show signs of improvement despite losing a fumble and totaling just 42 yards on seven completions. He rushed for a 12-yard touchdown in his limited action. 

Although Josh McCown will be the starting quarterback when the season begins, it's anyone's guess as to how long that lasts. McCown is a 36-year-old who will likely be anchoring a struggling Browns team come midseason. In the event that the Browns are falling behind the pack in the AFC North, why not bring in Manziel?

The chatter about Manziel seeing the field in a few months is premature, but a strong preseason will help his chances of making that a reality. He still has a long way to go, but he appears to be making progress.

Second best: Andy Lee

Dallas Cowboys: Gavin Escobar

Harry How/Getty Images

Four of Escobar's nine catches last year were for touchdowns.

The Cowboys only managed to put one touchdown on the board in Week 1 without Tony Romo, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. After all, it's the first week of meaningless games, so why risk injuring your franchise players?

Still, one offensive weapon made the most of his opportunity.

Tight end Gavin Escobar finished with five catches and 47 yards, both game highs. His five catches were more than half of his 2014 output.  

Escobar's performance was notable, as he is listed as Witten's backup on the depth chart. Witten, now 33, saw his production dip for the second consecutive season in 2014. 

It isn't to say that Witten is finished, but perhaps Escobar will earn himself some more looks during the regular season if he proves he can raise his game without Witten around. The Cowboys can never have too many receiving options, and using two tight ends could make their offense even better. 

Second best: Gus Johnson

Denver Broncos: Brock Osweiler

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Brock Osweiler needs to stay sharp in case anything happens to Peyton Manning.

Peyton Manning didn't play in Week 1 of the preseason, leaving Brock Osweiler to steal the show. He did just that, turning in a solid first-half performance while leading the Broncos to 19 points against the Seahawks.

Denver would eventually hold on for a 22-20 victory.

"Things felt very smooth out there tonight. So from a personal standpoint, it probably is my best performance to date, but I can't say that without those 10 other guys I was out there with tonight," Osweiler said, according to Associated Press.

Osweiler was sharp, going 15-of-20 with 151 yards and a touchdown. The 6'8" QB is reassuring Broncos fans that even if Manning were to go down, the season wouldn't be lost.

Manning played the last month of the season with a torn quad, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. His production suffered, as the Broncos were eventually ousted from the playoffs. With Manning now 39 years old, the increasing likelihood of an injury makes a reliable backup that much more important.

Osweiler has long been considered solid, although he has thrown just 30 regular-season passes in his career to date.

Second best: Kenny Anunike

Detroit Lions: Ameer Abdullah

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

The Lions may have found their replacement for Reggie Bush.

How good was Ameer Abdullah? Good enough to draw comparisons to an all-time great?

According to Jets head coach Todd Bowles, yes.

“He looked like he did in college,” Bowles said, per Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News. “He’s quick as a cat. He’s about as quick as Barry Sanders. I’m not saying he is Barry, but he’s a good running back.”

That's high praise from an opposing head coach, but Bowles elected to go the high route rather than saying, "Our defense was torched by a rookie."

All kidding aside, Abdullah really was impressive. The 2015 second-round draft pick cut and juked his way through the Jets defense on his way to a game-high 67 yards rushing.

Although Theo Riddick got the first carry of the night, it was Abdullah's name that was making waves afterward. It isn't every day that a rookie is compared to a Hall of Famer, but at the very least, Abdullah looks like a great replacement for departed running back Reggie Bush.

Second best: Matthew Stafford

Green Bay Packers: Alonzo Harris

Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

The rookie made a splash in his first NFL game action.

Running back Eddie Lacy may be the one who steals the headlines and sits atop the depth chart, but rookie Alonzo Harris made the impact in Week 1.

Harris rushed for a team-high 41 yards on seven carries and found the end zone for the first time of his career. 

His 25-yard touchdown run gave the Packers a 15-11 lead and would wind up being the game-winning score in their 22-11 victory over the Patriots. 

Harris, undrafted out of Louisiana-Lafayette, is not listed on Green Bay's depth chart.

Games like he had in Week 1 will give Harris a leg up on the competition, but he is still fighting for the third running back job behind Lacy and James Starks.

"I think your third halfback, third runner is critical," coach Mike McCarthy said, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.

If Harris continues to impress in the preseason, he has a chance to make the roster and make an impact in the regular season.

Second best: Scott Tolzien

Houston Texans: Cecil Shorts

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Cecil Shorts got the Texans on the board early.

Wide receiver Cecil Shorts was hoping a change of scenery could turning around his downward-trending production. In his first target as a member of the Texans, Shorts made that hope a reality.

The newcomers hooked up as quarterback Brian Hoyer found Shorts for a 58-yard touchdown to open the scoring. It was their first and only drive as teammates.

The duo will look to create more chemistry moving forward, as Shorts will definitely get a lot of targets in the new Texans offense. With Andre Johnson gone and Arian Foster injured, DeAndre Hopkins can't be the only contributor in the passing game.

The opportunities will be there for Shorts, and his solid start to the preseason was very encouraging.

Second best: Alfred Blue 

Indianapolis Colts: Josh Robinson

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Are the Colts gearing up to use Josh Robinson more?

One of the Colts' big offseason acquisitions was running back Frank Gore, and Josh Robinson currently seems like an afterthought. After all, Daniel Herron is cemented as Gore's backup, and the Colts have other options behind both of them as well, in the event of injury or other special circumstances.

With that being said, Robinson was Indy's most effective rusher in Week 1 of the preseason. He rushed for a game-high 44 yards and scored the Colts' lone touchdown.

It may not seem like enough to propel him into the conversation of making the team, but he still has three more weeks to make the most of his carries and impress the coaching staff.

The Colts figure to have one of the league's best offenses heading into the 2015 season, and their depth may hurt Robinson's chances of making the cut.

Second best: Junior Sylvestre

Jacksonville Jaguars: Stephen Morris

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

The 22-year-old won the game for the Jags.

A quick glance at the box score doesn't make Stephen Morris' night stand out much. The young QB completed only 33 percent of his passes and finished with the lowest number of passing yards (44) among the game's five QBs.

While he didn't make much happen with his arm, his feet happened to win Jacksonville the game.

Morris scampered into the end zone from one yard out to give the Jaguars a 23-21 victory over the Steelers. While it was only the preseason, and he wasn't impressive otherwise, it's hard not to select Morris as Jacksonville's best player of the game after he was the one who got it the victory. 

Although Morris is nothing more than a third-stringer to Blake Bortles and Chad Henne at this point, he shined when he needed to in Week 1. 

Second best: Blake Bortles

Kansas City Chiefs: Chase Daniel

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press/Associated Press

Chase Daniel was near perfect in Week 1.

Alex Smith will be the starting quarterback when the season begins, but Chase Daniel had himself quite the game in Week 1 of the preseason.

Daniel described his perspective on Fred Williams' 33-yard catch, which was one of pure joy and elation, Daniel said, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN.com:

"

What is crazy about that play is that I let it go and I got hit and spun around. I tried to throw it high enough and when I spun around I saw the back videoboard and he was running under it. I thought 'Oh, my gosh, he might catch it.' I was just trying to give it enough air, and I was literally looking the opposite way when he caught it. It was amazing.

"

Daniel has thrown just 75 passes in seven seasons to date. Still, he finished the victory over the Cardinals with an impressive stat line and arguably the best one of any quarterback in Week 1 of preseason. He was 17-of-21 with 189 yards and three touchdowns in the 34-19 win.

Second best: Fred Williams

Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The Dolphins are expecting big things out of Tannehill this season.

The Dolphins started Week 1 with an 85-yard touchdown drive that lasted over eight minutes. Although they would eventually fall to the Bears, 27-10, that drive was very encouraging for the first-team offense and quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Jarvis Landry capped off the drive with a two-yard TD pass from Tannehill, who was 6-of-7 in the game.

Tannehill is expected to have a breakout season in 2015. One way in which he can improve is by stretching the field, which he told Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today he's capable of doing:

"

I've always been able to throw it deep, it's just that there are a lot of factors that go into it. For whatever reason we couldn't put it together last year. We really want to threaten deep and complete deep balls and make deep gains. Also, it's tough to have consistent 10-12 play drives for touchdowns. You have to have a chunk play, a 40-yard play, at least a couple times a game.

"

Tannehill's development, along with the Dolphins' strong defense, will be keys for Miami this season.

Second best: Zach Vigil

Minnesota Vikings: Shaun Hill

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The traveled veteran was impressive in Week 1.

As a whole, the Vikings quarterbacks picked apart the Bucs defense, connecting on 81.8 percent of their passes in their 26-16 victory.

Veteran quarterback Shaun Hill led the way for the Vikes with two touchdowns and a 154.4 passer rating. He found Cordarrelle Patterson and Adam Thielen in the end zone during the second quarter to give Minnesota a commanding 23-3 lead.

Hill, 35, is a known commodity at this stage of his career. The word "potential" is no longer mentioned, nor is "ceiling." Hill is what he is, which is good enough for the Vikings.

Serving as youngster Teddy Bridgewater's backup and helping him learn both the way of life in the NFL and the offense will be just as important as anything he contributes in the stat sheets. He's a role model who can be a reliable option if he needs to be called upon as a spot starter. 

Second best: Eric Hendricks

New England Patriots: Jonas Gray

With LeGarrette Blount suspended for the season opener for violating the substance abuse policy, Jonas Gray is attempting to be the running back who fills his place.

After rushing for a game-high 74 yards on just seven carries and scoring a 55-yard touchdown, Gray seems to have gotten off to a good start.

Gray attributes his success to his work becoming quicker and more elusive, according to John Kurkjian of the Boston Herald:

"

When you feel lighter, you play a lot faster. That physical part of my game is never going to leave. But being able to run away from guys and get more yards and get more out of plays, from watching film last year and seeing the runs I had that I could have took the distance or gained more yards on it, I knew that this year was going to be the difference between was I going to play more or was I going to play a little bit.

"

Gray averaged 4.6 yards per carry in limited work last season and could be a sleeper candidate in what is always a very random Patriots backfield.

Second best: Jimmy Garoppolo

New Orleans Saints: Khiry Robinson

Alex Menendez/Getty Images

Khiry Robinson could have a breakout season in 2015.

Khiry Robinson didn't make an impact with his feet in the Saints' preseason opener. He did it with his hands.

Despite only catching eight passes last season, Robinson snagged three for 37 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. Backup quarterback Ryan Griffin wasn't surprised.

“Khiry’s a great receiver,” Griffin said, according to Joel A. Erickson of the Advocate. “Our rookie year, I don’t know how many times, but if you were to put a ratio to it, out of every three pass plays, one of them went to him. He’s a tough matchup for linebackers, and once he gets the ball, you guys see what he can do. Maybe a little underrated, he’s got great hands.”

Robinson has a real opportunity to shine in the Saints backfield this season. If he can add any sort of production in the passing game, it will only boost his value and allow him to take the next step. He could be poised for a breakout season in 2015.

Second best: Ramon Humber

New York Giants: Orleans Darkwa

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Orleans Darkwa may run himself into a roster spot.

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin summed up his team's first preseason game pretty well.

"We didn't play well early on with our [first team] and perhaps didn't play well throughout the entire night," Coughlin said, per Jordan Raanan of NJ.com.

So what did New York do well? Nothing, of course.

Still, from what is expected to be a crowded backfield of Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams and Shane Vereen emerged Orleans Darkwa. 

Darkwa, who was originally undrafted out of Tulane, rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals. His competition (Jennings, Williams, Vereen) only totaled 14 yards on six carries.

While it doesn't mean that Darkwa will all of a sudden work himself into the rotation, if he continues to have a strong camp, he will leave a lasting impression and could be called upon in the event that someone else gets injured.

Second best: Akeem Hunt

New York Jets: Walter Powell

Al Pereira/Getty Images

Walter Powell was about the only positive for the Jets.

The Todd Bowles era began just as the Rex Ryan one had ended. Disaster.

Picking a best player for the Jets' preseason debacle against the Lions was about as difficult as any task.

Walter Powell returned a kick for 48 yards in the Jets' only return opportunity of the night. His return sparked a drive that ended with a 34-yard Nick Folk field goal for the Jets' only points of the evening.

The Jets, who usually have poor special teams, could certainly use a boost such as Powell in the return game. Bowles and the Arizona Cardinals originally drafted him in 2014.

The biggest concerns of the Jets' 23-3 loss were the first-team offense and defense. Neither was impressive at all, and both have a lot of work to do before their Week 2 game against the Falcons.

Second best: Marcus Williams

Oakland Raiders: Matt McGloin

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Matt McGloin only had one incompletion on the night.

He wasn't perfect, but Matt McGloin was pretty close.

After tossing only one incompletion in 11 passes, racking up a game-high 104 yards and finding the end zone once, McGloin showed that he deserves to be Derek Carr's backup. He served as a third-stringer, behind Christian Ponder, in Week 1, however.

McGloin was underwhelming in seven games in 2013, although he was an undrafted rookie and didn't have many weapons to utilize. The fear here is that McGloin missed his shot and will struggle to find playing time in the NFL once again.

Games like the one he had in Week 1 of the preseason will certainly help his case. He didn't turn the ball over as Ponder did, and if he can limit his turnovers, perhaps McGloin can move up the depth chart for Oakland. 

Second best: Brice Butler

Philadelphia Eagles: Nelson Agholor

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Agholor showed why he was a first-round draft pick.

The only person that rookie wide receiver Nelson Agholor isn't impressing is himself. 

"I'm not the fastest guy in the world," Agholor said, according to Jeff McLane of Philly.com. "Some days, guys won't be able to tackle me. On that play, I continued to finish hard and got away."

Agholor flashed his speed on his 34-yard touchdown reception during the first quarter of the Eagles' commanding 36-10 victory. He finished the game with three catches for 57 yards.

The first-rounder figures to play a key role in coach Chip Kelly's high-paced offense alongside Jordan Matthews. Agholor can use his great speed (although he isn't the fastest guy in the world) to beat defenses down the field and vary the look of the offense. 

The ability to throw at all distances will keep opposing defenses off balance. A fearsome passing attack will also create more running holes for running back DeMarco Murray.

Second best: Tim Tebow

Pittsburgh Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Ben Roethlisberger tossed a TD in limited action.

Ben Roethlisberger began this season in unsurprising fashion, as he was rock-solid yet again.

It's what we've come to expect from Big Ben and the Steelers, and they delivered once more.

Roethlisberger connected on all three of his passes on his only drive of the game. It took him just 3:14 to drive 80 yards, with the punctuation on his evening being his final pass, a 44-yard touchdown to Martavis Bryant. 

Bryant's development will be a key for the Steelers offense. He racked up 549 yards and eight touchdowns last season as a rookie, and if he continues to progress, Pittsburgh's aerial attack will become that much more lethal.

Becoming a reliable target alongside Antonio Brown for Roethlisberger will be crucial, and Bryant showed positive results in his first preseason game.

Regardless, Roethlisberger should be fine again, as he always is. The Steelers are now uncharacteristically a strong offensive team that can beat teams on the ground or in the air, and that should only get better in 2015. 

Second best: Landry Jones

San Diego Chargers: Branden Oliver

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

Oliver can pick up carries now that Ryan Mathews is gone.

Rookie running back Melvin Gordon's first preseason action was a train wreck, as he rushed for 11 yards on six carries after getting the start. His competition on the roster, Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver, both outplayed him.

Woodhead rushed for a touchdown, and Oliver was the best running back in the game on either team during San Diego's 17-7 victory over Dallas.

Oliver rushed for 53 yards on 10 carries, including a 10-yard touchdown run. 

With Ryan Mathews gone, it's certainly possible that Oliver sees a fair share of carries. Woodhead figures to make his presence felt in the passing game, leaving more carries for Gordon and Oliver, who is currently the starter on the Chargers' depth chart.

Oliver rushed for 582 yards in his first season in 2014 and could be set up for similar success. Regardless of who starts, the Chargers will likely try to give their first-round pick, Gordon, as many chances to succeed as possible. A timeshare in San Diego is quite possible.

Second best: Javontee Herndon

San Francisco 49ers: Jarryd Hayne

Patric Schneider/Associated Press

Maybe the transition from rubgy to football isn't really that hard.

The San Francisco 49ers have Australia's version of Michael Jordan on their roster. 

“Was I happy that it happened that way? Yes. But Jarryd Hayne in Australia is... I don’t want to say Michael Jordan, but Jarryd Hayne is a household name in Australia," 49ers coach Jim Tomsula said to KNBR Radio (h/t Fox Sports). 

Hayne was impressive in his first NFL action after making the leap from rugby, totaling 120 all-purpose yards in his football debut. He ripped off a 53-yard run and returned one kick and two punts to show his versatility in both the running game and special teams.

His coach was impressed following his debut, noting his ability to create in space.

"He can play in space," Tomsula said, according to ESPN.com. "He's a premier athlete in the world in space." 

Second best: Blaine Gabbert

Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Lockett

A referee may have taken out Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll on the play, but it was all worth it. Tyler Lockett's 103-yard kickoff-return touchdown, shown above, got his Seahawks career off on the right foot.

"I saw him and couldn't get out of the way," Carroll told the Associated Press.

Lockett, Seattle's third-round draft pick this season, looks to make a big impact in the return game.

His new head coach was very impressed, despite being knocked down for the finish of Lockett's big return.

"I thought Lockett's 83-yard touchdown was pretty good. See, I didn't see the last 20," Carroll joked, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN.com. "But Lock did a great job tonight. He lit it up in kickoff return, punt return. It was great to see that. We all know that's exactly what we were hoping to see. He looked very special tonight."

Second best: Frank Clark

St. Louis Rams: Tavon Austin

The Rams offense floundered most of the night in St. Louis' 18-3 loss, but at least it had one highlight reel.

It came on the second play of the game when Nick Foles connected with wide receiver Tavon Austin, who proceeded to make the Raiders defenders look ridiculous until he was finally pushed out of bounds.

The 35-yard catch led the Rams to a field goal for their only points of the game.

Austin has a lot to prove this season, as he took a step backward in every category in 2014. Originally drafted in the first round in 2013, Austin has yet to live up to expectations. He failed to catch a touchdown pass in 15 games last season.

Although he's small at 5'8", Austin has the speed necessary to become a reliable weapon in an offense. He will look to prove his worth in 2015 and show people that being drafted at No. 8 overall wasn't a mistake. He'll need far more than his 242 receiving yards from a year ago, however.

Second best: Bryce Hager

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 15: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers calls a play at the line of scrimmage against the Minnesota Vikings during the preseason game on August 15, 2015 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated

The Buccaneers lost to the Vikings, but rookie quarterback Jameis Winston isn't concerned. Instead, he issued a polite request to calm the fans down.

“Fans, please don’t panic about one half of football,” Jameis told Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620 (h/t JoeBucsFan.com). “Please, there’s no reason to. We did some great things, and we’re going to build on the positives.”

Winston understands there's pressure on him to perform as the No. 1 draft pick and carry the Bucs back to the playoffs. He also understands that he can't do it in the preseason.

Though he says he wants to build on the positives, what are they? His game-low 48.4 passer rating, two sacks and interception? No, let's not hit Winston too hard over an exhibition game.

He recovered nicely after a tough start. He was 0-of-3 on his first two drives and was sacked on the first play of his third. After a quick five-yard scramble, Winston connected with Vincent Jackson on a shotgun pass deep down the right side for a 40-yard gain.

Those are the types of plays the Bucs are interested in seeing in the preseason—the ones where Winston shows off his arm strength and exhibits his potential with one of his big targets.

Winston would eventually go on to throw 131 yards on just nine completed passes for an average of 14.5 yards per completion. He isn't the type of quarterback to play conservatively with bubble screens and dumpoffs. Instead, he'll look to stretch the field and take chances. If he can limit his turnovers and improve his completion percentage, he'll have a chance to put together a solid rookie season.

Winston's best drive came just before the second half ended.

While using mostly no huddle, Winston led a 76-yard drive in which he was 5-of-6 for 60 yards through the air. He finished the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run, showing his rushing ability as well.

It didn't look pretty on the score sheet, but Winston showed flashes of his potential and will look to build upon them during the rest of preseason. 

Second best: Louis Murphy

Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota

Daniel Shirey/Getty Images

Mariota's only incompletion went for an interception.

It all began with a sack, interception and fumble. As quarterback Marcus Mariota's first two drives came to a disappointing halt, a collective groan was heard from all of the people who had bought into his solid training camp.

Mariota's haters were laughing and again talking about how he won't be able to make it in the NFL. And then he got to work.

Mariota orchestrated a 10-play, 80-yard drive to get the Titans on the board after his slow start. He showed promise on that drive, going 5-of-5 with 78 yards.

His teammates weren't surprised.

"It was almost like he was, '90-yard touchdown drive, that's just kind of what's supposed to happen,'" backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst told Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today. "His poise is unlike most rookie quarterbacks I've seen."

"I just kind of shrugged it off," Mariota said, according to the Associated Press. "I figured we needed a good drive, and we finished with a good one."

It was encouraging that Mariota finished the game on a high note. If he had just ended two drives with turnovers, he would have had lingering questions all week. Now people have seen his potential, and he will look to build upon it in Week 2.

Second best: Zach Mettenberger

Washington Redskins: Kirk Cousins

Jason Miller/Getty Images

CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 13: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 looks for a pass with protection from guard Josh LeRibeus #67 of the Washington Redskins during the first half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on August 13, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio

On a night where Robert Griffin III started and totaled 36 yards on two drives, Kirk Cousins again reminded the world that he's a good quarterback.

Cousins was 12-of-14 for 154 yards on the night and scored a rushing touchdown on his first drive.

He has a lot of believers around the league, including former head coach Mike Shanahan.

“I think Kirk Cousins has got a big-time future,” Shanahan said on 106.7 The Fan, per Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post. “He’s a starter in the National Football League, and that’ll be proven out in time.”

Having Cousins as Griffin's "backup" is a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing because if Griffin struggles, Cousins can come right in and put points on the board. That's also an issue because Griffin will have a short leash, and a QB controversy in Washington is inevitable, as fans will be clamoring for Cousins if Griffin begins to struggle. 

Second best: Houston Bates