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NFL preseason week 1: Top takeaways from a wild week of action
The preseason is often described as a 'dress rehearsal', but the Week 1 action felt nothing like a warm-up. Granted, many teams didn't play their starters for long, if at all, but there was no shortage of meaningful takeaways that will set the tone for the 2025 campaign.
DAZN News presents the top storylines you need to know from the first full slate of 2025 NFL action.
Shedeur Sanders steals the show as Cleveland’s QB competition heats up
Sanders’ performance in the Cleveland Browns' 30-10 win over the Carolina Panthers has added even more fuel to one of the NFL’s most talked-about position competitions.
Tagged as one of the key storylines you needed to follow in Week 1, Sanders took full advantage of his opportunity to start the Browns' opener, demonstrating rare poise and command for a rookie.
Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski came away impressed.
"Pleased with Shedeur, pleased with the offense," he told the Browns' website, adding, "the guy's making plays."
Stefanski has yet to name a starter for Cleveland's Week 2 preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The expectation is that fellow rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel will get an opportunity to start if he has recovered from his hamstring injury.
Whatever the pecking order when the Browns take to the field on Saturday, Sanders' fast start has put the other quarterbacks on notice.
The Patriots have a dynamic playmaker in TreVeyon Henderson
The Patriots' second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft wasted no time making his mark in the NFL, showcasing otherworldly speed and agility on his way to returning the opening kickoff for 100 yards and a score.
Were that not enough, the former Ohio running back also ran once for 18 yards and corralled three passes for 12 yards.
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is well aware of the home-run threat Henderson poses with the ball in his hands.
"He's explosive", he told Masslive.com. "We’ve had some really good players with skillsets that are somewhat like his – maybe no one as fast."
Under McDaniels’ guidance and with promising quarterback Drake Maye at the helm, Henderson’s explosive playmaking ability could be a difference-maker for the Patriots' offense.
Travis Hunter to star on offense and defense for the Jaguars?
Only a handful of non-quarterbacks have generated the kind of buzz surrounding the Jaguars’ rookie Travis Hunter.
Touted as the most talented two-way prospect since Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, the burning question is how much time he'll spend on offense and defense.
While a definitive answer to that question may have to wait until the regular season commences, Hunter's usage in Jacksonville's 31-25 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers suggests he'll see plenty of action on both sides of the ball.
The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner spent 11 snaps on offense on the opening drive as a wide receiver, and eight on defense as a cornerback.
Could he be the generational talent many expect him to be?
Hunter's production may not have set the world alight after managing just two catches for nine yards on three targets, but we know not to expect fireworks from starters in the preseason because they aren't on the field long enough. His outlook in 2025 and beyond is incredibly bright.
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