Week 1 of the NFL season brings plenty of familiar faces in new places and new faces in familiar places.
From a talented crop of rookie debuts, including Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty and Cam Ward, to a slew of veterans in new places — from Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf to Sam Darnold and Micah Parsons — more than a few teams are expecting big things from their offseason additions.
Who lived up to expectations in their debut? Who disappointed?
Here's a look at some of the most notable Week 1 debuts and how each player performed in his new threads.
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NFL Week 1 debut grades
Aaron Rodgers, Steelers
- Grade: A
- Stats: 22/30, 244 yards, 4 TD
The Steelers would not have been expected to win by anyone who knew they would give up 32 points, but Aaron Rodgers looked much like he did in Week 18 last season by dicing up the defense of his former team. Rodgers threw four touchdowns in the narrow victory over the Jets, recording only eight incompletions and remaining as calm as ever when the game was on the line. Rodgers did absorb four sacks, showing again that he just isn't mobile at this stage of his career, and he had two passes nearly intercepted by the Jets — but there isn't much of anything Steelers fans can complain about from this one.
Travis Hunter, Jaguars
- Grade: C
- Stats: 8 targets, 6 catches, 33 yards, 1 tackle
Travis Hunter led the Jaguars in targets in their rain-interrupted win over the Panthers and played six defensive snaps, but he didn't set the world on fire in his NFL debut. Hunter hauled in six catches for 33 yards, doing some work on short passes but lagging behind from an efficiency standpoint. Hunter assisted on one tackle defensively and allowed a catch to Tetairoa McMillan on his first defensive snap. As Hunter settles in, it's clear he will be a major fixture of the Jaguars' offense between some occasional defensive work.
Geno Smith, Raiders
- Grade: A+
- Stats: 24/34, 362 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
The Raiders brought in Geno Smith to bring some respectability back to the quarterback position in silver and black, and that's exactly what they got. One interception aside, Smith did his job all day long on the road, throwing for 362 yards and keeping Las Vegas' offense humming along just fine despite an inefficient day from Ashton Jeanty. These are the kind of games the Raiders wouldn't have won in past years, but Smith had everything working on Sunday and gave the organization some hope of contending in a crowded AFC.
Ashton Jeanty, Raiders
- Grade: D+
- Stats: 19 carries, 38 yards, 1 TD
The Raiders got a comfortable win in New England, but it wasn't the performance Ashton Jeanty necessarily wanted. The Heisman runner-up averaged only two yards per carry, rushing for 38 yards while the passing game did much of the work for Las Vegas. Jeanty did score a touchdown after breaking through contact, showcasing what he should be able to do going forward, and he missed a potential breakthrough run when he slipped behind the line of scrimmage, so the Raiders won't lose faith in their rookie after one game.
DK Metcalf, Steelers
- Grade: B
- Stats: 7 targets, 4 catches, 83 yards
Rodgers targeted DK Metcalf a team-high seven times in Sunday's win over the Jets, with the former Seahawks star hauling in four catches for 83 yards. It still felt like Metcalf could have been unlocked a bit more than he was. He did much of his work after the catch on his first two grabs, taking advantage of poor tackling by the Jets, and he only recorded two catches over the final two quarters. Still, the Steelers' offense beat expectations, and the presence Metcalf undoubtedly helped.
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Justin Fields, Jets
- Grade: A
- Stats: 16/22, 218 yards, 48 rushing yards, 3 total TD
The Jets would much rather have a win than a loss, but the defense and Xavier Gipson's ball security have to shoulder most of the blame for the defeat. Fields did well to answer questions about his viability as an NFL starter, tossing only six incompletions and absorbing only one sack. He didn't run all over the Steelers, letting Breece Hall handle much of the work on the ground, but Fields' scrambling ability was something Pittsburgh had to constantly account for. The lasting memory from the Jets' loss might be Fields' decision not to run on fourth down in those closing moments, but did enough for New York to win the game even if that was not the result.
Russell Wilson, Giants
- Grade: D
- Stats: 17/37, 168 yards
Wilson didn't have LT Andrew Thomas protecting his blindside on Sunday, but he just wasn't good enough in spite of a strong effort from his defense. Wilson sputtered in the red zone, as he did often with the Broncos and Steelers, and he had a hard time activating receivers not named Malik Nabers. The Giants were ultimately shut out of the end zone. While Brian Daboll insisted all summer long that Wilson was his starter and there would be no quarterback competition, this performance will quickly fire up calls for Jaxson Dart to start.
Daniel Jones, Colts
- Grade: A+
- Stats: 22/29, 272 passing yards, 26 rushing yards, 3 total TD
It's hard to ask for a much better start to the Daniel Jones era in Indianapolis than this. In fact, Jones' performance in Sunday's win over the Dolphins likely ensured his era in Indianapolis will last beyond just a couple weeks. The former Giants quarterback took what a soft Dolphins secondary gave him, throwing for nearly 200 yards in the first half and hitting seven different pass-catchers overall. The highlight of the day was a beauty of a 36-yard pass to Alec Pierce along the sideline. The Colts followed the pulse of the game and didn't rely too heavily on their running game, letting Jones sling the ball a bit and riding that success to a resounding victory.
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Tyler Warren, Colts
- Grade: A
- Stats: 9 targets, 7 catches, 76 yards
If there was any doubt Tyler Warren would be heavily involved in the Colts' offensive plans early on, those doubts are now gone. Warren was targeted nine times by Jones on Sunday, leading the team, and he hauled in seven passes for 76 yards in the big win. The Colts have long needed a legitimate No. 1 receiver, but having a tight end with the pass-catching ability of Warren could open up the offense for everybody.
Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers
- Grade: B+
- Stats: 9 targets, 5 catches, 68 yards
McMillan had a fairly strong day in what was otherwise a dismal offensive performance for the Panthers, hauling in five of his nine targets from Bryce Young for 68 yards. McMillan was Carolina's most efficient receiver and accounted for nearly 38 percent of Young's total yardage, overcoming a sluggish group around him. The Panthers have work to do to get their offense where it was late last season, but McMillan was a bright spot in Week 1.
Micah Parsons, Packers
- Grade: A
- Stats: 1 sack
Parsons only made occasional appearances in his Packers debut as he dealt with a back injury, but he did well to make his presence felt. The former All-Pro contributed to an interception when he sped toward Jared Goff, and he recorded his first sack in green and gold when he got to Goff late in the fourth quarter. Even in limited snaps, Parsons showed glimpses of why the Packers paid such a premium to get him.
Sam Darnold, Seahawks
- Grade: C-
- Stats: 16/23, 150 yards
The Seahawks' defense kept them in the game, but if Seattle can't beat a 49ers team missing so many weapons at home, how can fans have any confidence in the team competing in the NFC West? The Seahawks needed more from Sam Darnold, who didn't reach the 100-yard mark until late in the game and finished with only 150. While he didn't throw an interception, Darnold ended Seattle's chance to win the game by fumbling as defenders closed in. The Seahawks are going to need more from Darnold, who threw for only 26 yards to pass-catchers not named Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Cam Ward
- Grade: D+
- Stats: 12/28, 112 yards, 6 sacks
Facing the Broncos' defense on the road in your NFL debut is a monumental task, but we don't have to pretend Cam Ward did many positive things on Sunday. Ward completed just 42.9 percent of his passes, averaging four yards per attempt and taking six sacks. He had multiple chances to go down the field and at least threaten to tie the game down the stretch, but none of those drives went anywhere. It will take much more than one game against an elite defense to judge Ward, but there is work ahead for him.