5 Rookies Who Made a Splash in Friday Night's NFL Preseason Games
5 Rookies Who Made a Splash in Friday Night's NFL Preseason Games
Luke EasterlingSat, August 15, 2026 at 3:30 AM UTC
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Friday night's NFL preseason action gave even more opportunities for this year's rookie class to make an immediate impact, and plenty of them rose to the occasion.
Here are five first-year players who made the kind of impact that will be remembered when it comes time for roster cuts ahead of the regular season:
RB Kaytron Allen, Commanders
Allen was a late-round steal for Washington after the success he had at Penn State, and he made an instant impact in his first preseason action Friday night. The sixth-round pick led the Commanders with 85 yards rushing on 23 carries, finding the end zone for the first time in his pro career. A well-rounded back with size, quickness, power and versatility, If he keeps producing like this throughout the preseason, there's no reason why Allen can't challenge Rachaad White and Jacory Croskey-Merritt for some regular-season action as a rookie.
QB Jalon Daniels, Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield will be the Bucs' starter for at least another year (expect him to stay longer, on the franchise tag if nothing else), but with veteran backup Jake Browning out due to injury, Daniels got plenty of playing time Friday night. He made the most of it, showing the same efficiency and playmaking ability that made him a productive field-general at Kansas, completing 10 of 15 passes for 111 yards, adding a rushing touchdown that helped secure a Tampa Bay victory. Daniels may not have Browning's experience, but he's got more versatility and upside as a potential long-term backup to Mayfield.
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WR Caleb Douglas, Dolphins
It only took one play for Douglas to make his presence felt Friday night, as he hauled in a deep shot from Malik Willis with one hand, juggling the ball in acrobatic fashion despite a defender hanging onto his other arm. A third-round pick out of Texas Tech, Douglas impressed the Dolphins throughout the predraft process with an impressive blend of size and speed, and these are the kinds of big plays they're expecting him to deliver on a regular basis. This offense needs a new No. 1 receiver after moving on from Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and Douglas could be their guy.
RB Robert Henry Jr., Commanders
Allen wasn't the only rookie running back who put on a show for the Commanders on Friday night, as Henry made the most of his touches. The UTSA product needed just 12 carries to rack up 75 yards and a touchdown, showing off the vision, quickness and explosion that made him one of the more underrated running back prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class. There's plenty of talent ahead of him on the depth chart right now, but performances like this will make it hard for Washington to keep him off the roster, or easy for another team to scoop him up if he doesn't make the initial cut.
CB Ayden Garnes, Buccaneers
Every year, a handful of undrafted free agents make a big enough impact throughout training camp and the preseason to earn a roster spot, and Garnes is making his case already in Tampa Bay. After stringing together some strong practices, Garnes showed off his big-play ability with a 47-yard pick-six that helped the Bucs turn the tide Friday night against the Jets in what eventually became a victory. This defense needs as many playmakers as possible at the corner position, and Garnes could give them some valuable depth heading into the regular season.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Sports”
