NFL.com gives a breakdown of what fans need to know from Week 1 of the 2023 NFL preseason. Catch up on the biggest takeaways from each game, according to experts in the League. Houston Texans 20 –  9  New England Patriots 1. Texans WR Tank Dell should push for more playing time. The rookie sent Patriots defensive backs into a tizzy every time. Dell was a blur, deploying quick moves to separate and hit another gear after the catch. In 17 routes run, he caught 5 of 8 targets for 65 yards and a touchdown. Even when he was not being targeted, he was always open. Dell unleashed hell on short routes, getting open off the line, giving the Quarterback an easy target. On three of his five receptions, he generated 3-plus yards of separation, per Nex Gen Stats. He capped off the night with an acrobatic touchdown grab.  Although the ball slipped through his hands initially, he stayed with the play, pinning it to his leg for the score before sliding out of bounds. In a Texans receiver corps heralded by Nico Collins, Robert Woods, John Metchie III and Noah Brown, Dell may push for snaps, specifically from the slot. The Texans moved him around Thursday (14 wide, three slots). The question was always his size. If he proves he can get off press coverage when the competition becomes heated, he should be a guy who improves as the season progresses. 2. Patriots DE Keion White shines in his preseason debut. Keion was all over the pitch early, destabilizing the Texans’ offense. The DE used unique athletics to overpower Houston’s backup tackles, spinning three tackles, two pressures and QB hit.  On a botched Houston pitch, White descended on the backfield, tearing through running back Dare Ogunbowale so they could not retrieve the ball, allowing New England to pounce on the pigskin. Keion has a high-level upside if he stays consistent. His performance exemplifies the depth New England boasts upfront.  Linebacker Anfernee Jennings was a problem too, and defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale made a fantastic move for an early sack. Yes, they faced the mess which was a Houston O-line that was playing backups, but the young Patriots reserves indicate that they could bring juice. They should be dangerous in 2023. 3. C.J. Stroud struggled. The No. 2 overall pick played only two series, throwing an interception on the opening drive. Stroud was under fire on his dropbacks and looked slow to fight back. Mills ran the offense with more rhythm than C.J. Stroud’s first night under the NFL lights, as shown here, was a tough one thanks mainly to White and the Patriots’ pass rush. Seattle Seahawks  24 – 13 Minnesota Vikings 1. Seattle’s rookies looked good in their preseason debut. The Seahawks’ defense reminded fans of last season’s challenges, getting hit in the gut continuously It is a sign the depth on D is not up to snuff, especially at linebacker, but given starters did not play, and it is August 10, getting worked up about it looks premature. Focusing on the young athletes’ potentials – First-round wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba was not prolific (three catches, 25 yards), but his 15-yard snag over the middle showed how he could eat alongside big dogs like Dk Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Running back Zach Charbonnet boasted some angry runs, moving over defenders and brandished pass-catching ability. Fifth-round centre Oluwatimi looked good and could push Evan Brown at the pivot. Second-round outside linebacker Derrick Hall showed some pop as a rusher. Defensive end Mike Morris bulldozed his way for two QB pressures. Even undrafted wideout Jake Bobo stood out, leading the Seahawks with 55 yards and a touchdown. This was all in the absence of top draft pick Devon Witherspoon (hamstring injury). The road ahead is long, but if Seattle gets its rookies to be productive, it could be dangerous in a wide-open NFC. 2. Minnesota’s RB Ty Chandler gets a heavy workload vying for the RB2 role. The Vikings entered the first 2023 NFL preseason game planning to show off Chandler. The 2022 first-round pick, who missed most of his rookie season due to a thumb injury, took a hands-on approach from the beginning. He played 78.4% of the first-half snaps, generating 70 scrimmage yards on 15 touches – 11 carries for 41 yards, four catches for 29 yards.  Behind solid blocking, Chandler showed he could move north-south, and patience following blocks turned out well. Pass-catching ability will help the Vikings score more snaps in the regular season. With Alexander Mattison in line to take over the starting role following the departure of Dalvin Cook, the question going into preseason was how the rest of the committee would shake out. Ty made his case emphatically in Seattle. Related News: NFL preseason 2023 Week 1 schedule and takeaways.

The first week of the NFL preseason 2023 began on Thursday night, with New England Patriots hosting the Houston Texans and the Seattle Seahawks receiving the Minnesota Vikings. C.J. Stroud the No.2 overall pick got his first NFL reps starting for Houston. He went 2-for-4 for 13 yards and an interception before coach DeMeco Ryans looked to incumbent starter Davis Mills. Mills went 9-of-12 for 99 yards and a touchdown before Case Keenum took over under centre. While the Carolina Panthers named No.1 overall pick Bryce Young the starter to open training camp, Ryans still has not picked a starter between Stroud and Mills. On the other side of the pitch, New England fans will have to wait another week to observe how quarterback Mac Jones is adjusting to Bill O’Brien’s new offense. Seattle’s Pro Bowl quarterback Geno Smith watched Drew Lock take the start. Jaxon Smith-Njiba, the second of the Seahawk’s first-round picks, got his first NFL action Thursday night, along with Vikings first-rounder Jordan Addison. These are the biggest takeaways from Thursday’s games, including the link to the rest of the Week 1 NFL preseason 2023 schedule. More from the NFL: 2023 NFL preseason, Week 1: What experts learned from Thursday’s preseason doubleheader. NFL preseason games on Thursday, August 10 Houston Texans 20, New England Patriots 9 Texans: “C.J. Stroud struggled in his first preseason start, which could allow the quarterback competition with Davis Mills to linger. Stroud played two series and went 2-for-4 for 13 yards with an interception. Mills went 9-for-12 for 99 yards with a touchdown.  Stroud appeared to be separating in the competition as coach DeMeco Ryans gave Stroud all the first-team offensive reps in practice as he showed better command of the offense. But in his first NFL action, he was tentative, took a sack and threw an interception that led to a Patriots’ field goal. He didn’t have excellent protection, as he was under pressure on 60% of his dropbacks.  On the other hand, Mills led the Texans to their only points of the first half with a touchdown throw to rookie receiver Tank Dell”. –  DJ Bien-Aime. Next game: vs. Dolphins (4 p.m. ET, Saturday, August 19). Patriots: “On a night that most starters didn’t play, second-round draft pick Keion White turned in an impressive debut. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound defensive end out of Georgia Tech started on the edge and was consistently disruptive around the ball. He finished with three tackles, including smothering running back Dare Ogunbowale on a loose exchange with quarterback Davis Mills that linebacker Calvin Munson recovered for a turnover. White’s performance, combined with first-round pick Christian Gonzalez starting at cornerback, infuses youth into an already strong defense that returns every player except Devin McCourty. The Patriots lead the NFL in terms of defensive retention.” – Mike Reiss. Next game: at Packers (8 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 19). Seattle Seahawks 24, Minnesota Vikings 13 Seahawks: “Drew Lock has yet to put it all together over four NFL seasons, but he showed Thursday night why the Seahawks continue to believe that he’s a starting-calibre quarterback. With Geno Smith and most of Seattle’s veteran first-teamers getting the night off, Lock started against Minnesota and played into the fourth quarter, in large part because the Seahawks want to get him as many reps as possible this preseason after he didn’t play a single snap in last year’s regular season.  At times, he looked like he was shaking off rust from almost a calendar year on the bench. But he mostly showed off the tools that made him a second-round pick and a player Seattle badly wanted to acquire in the Russell Wilson trade. Lock completed 17 of 24 passes for 191 yards, two touchdown passes and a tough-luck interception on a throw that was tipped at the line of scrimmage.” –  Brady Henderson Vikings: “Running back Ty Chandler took advantage of an extended look Thursday night as he competes for the No. 2 job behind starter Alexander Mattison.  Playing for almost the entire first half, Chandler rushed for 41 yards on 11 carries, while also catching four passes for another 29 yards. Along the way, he demonstrated his ability to make the first defender miss. And he did so, coach Kevin O’Connell said at halftime, on some poorly blocked plays. With Kene Nwangwu sidelined by injury for most of camp and rookie DeWayne McBride struggling, Chandler has a clear path to the No. 2 job at this point.” – Kevin Seifert Next game: vs. Titans (8 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 19) Next game: vs. Cowboys (10 p.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 19) View the rest of the schedule for NFL preseason 2023 games for the month of August. Story credit: ESPN.