The NFL preseason is officially in the books, and now the countdown to Week 1 is on. While preseason games don’t count toward the standings, they give players a chance to boost their value or hurt their stock with every performance.
Whether it was a rookie flashing his potential or a backup pushing for a starting job, there were plenty of players who helped their cause over the past few weeks. Of course, it wasn’t all good news. Some players struggled to make an impact, lost ground in a position battle or simply failed to live up to the expectations around them.
With the preseason now wrapped up, it’s time to look at which players helped themselves and which ones left more questions than answers. Here are the names trending up and down heading into Week 1.
Risers
De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers’ second-round pick didn’t exactly ease into his first NFL preseason, catching seven passes for 63 yards in his debut before adding another 46 yards against the Chargers. He finished with 11 catches on 13 targets for 109 yards across two games, showing off his size, speed and ability to line up in different spots.
With San Francisco’s veteran receiver group getting older and Stribling already earning plenty of first-team work, his strong summer has him looking like a player who could have a bigger role than expected in Week 1.
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York Giants
There was no guarantee Odell Beckham Jr. would even make the Giants’ roster when he returned to New York this offseason. After sitting out the 2025 season, the 33-year-old needed to prove he could still contribute. Beckham did just that, catching seven passes for 76 yards across three games and looking sharp throughout the preseason.
More importantly, his play earned praise from head coach John Harbaugh and helped him secure a spot on the 53-man roster. It’s obviously not the same OBJ who lit up the league a decade ago, but simply getting back on an NFL roster is a pretty significant boost to his stock.
Mike Washington Jr., RB, Las Vegas Raiders
A crowded Raiders backfield suddenly looks a lot more interesting after what Mike Washington Jr. put on tape this preseason. The fourth-round rookie ran for 168 yards at an impressive 7.3 yards per carry, including a 33-yard burst against Houston.
The timing could work in his favour, too. With Ashton Jeanty dealing with an ankle injury, Washington could see more work than initially expected. Even once Jeanty is back, the Raiders have talked about using both backs, giving Washington a real opportunity to turn his strong preseason into a meaningful role.
Ty Simpson, QB, Los Angeles Rams
Ty Simpson put together a remarkably efficient preseason, completing 47 of 60 passes for 382 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He was particularly sharp in the finale, going 18-of-23 against the Chargers and adding a touchdown to cap off an unbeaten preseason for Los Angeles.
The bigger story is what it means for his role. Simpson entered camp as a longshot for the backup job, but his consistency has put him firmly in that conversation. For now, it looks like the Rams may have found themselves a pretty useful insurance policy behind Matthew Stafford.
Fallers
Jeremiyah Love, RB, Arizona Cardinals
The No. 3 overall pick looked electric in his preseason debut against the Raiders, turning 14 touches into 72 scrimmage yards and showing exactly why Arizona made him such a high draft pick. Unfortunately, he suffered a high ankle sprain in the game and was ruled out for the remainder of the preseason.
The injury doesn’t erase what Love showed on the field, but missing valuable preseason reps isn’t ideal for a rookie expected to play a major role. The Cardinals remain hopeful he’ll be ready for Week 1, but his stock took a hit when his momentum was cut short.
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Atlanta Falcons
A strong finish against his former team wasn’t enough to erase a shaky preseason for Tua Tagovailoa. After going just 3-of-5 for 22 yards in his first outing, he was held out of the second game before returning to face Miami, where he completed 7-of-8 passes for 95 yards but also lost a fumble.
The bigger concern is where that leaves him in Atlanta. Tua arrived as the veteran expected to compete for the starting job, but Michael Penix Jr. remains in the mix after recovering from his ACL injury, while Tua’s inconsistent preseason has done little to strengthen his case.
Jordyn Tyson, WR, New Orleans Saints
The Saints had high hopes for Jordyn Tyson after making him the No. 8 overall pick, but his preseason ended before he could make his NFL debut. The rookie receiver suffered a hamstring injury in training camp and is expected to miss roughly two months, meaning he could be sidelined until mid-October.
That’s especially frustrating given Tyson’s injury history, which already included multiple issues during his college career. His talent isn’t the concern, but another hamstring setback has put a major dent in the excitement surrounding his arrival in New Orleans.
Tyler Loop, K, Baltimore Ravens
Kickers don’t usually get much attention during the preseason, but Tyler Loop managed to make himself one of the bigger stories in Baltimore. Unfortunately for the Ravens, it wasn’t for the right reasons. Loop made just five of his eight field-goal attempts this preseason, including two misses in the finale against Washington.
That’s especially concerning after his missed 44-yard kick ended Baltimore’s season last year. With boos raining down after his latest misses, Loop’s job is suddenly far less secure than it looked a few weeks ago, and the Ravens could now look for competition at kicker.