Shaun Alexander was impressive in his Seahawks debut.

We know the regular season is still almost a month away, but that doesn't mean it's not too early to look at how some of the rookies from the NFL's Class of 2000 are adapting to life in professional football.

Some rookies like Seattle running back Shaun Alexander made an immediate impact. Others like Steelers receiver Plaxico Burress made impressive debuts only to be brought back down to earth a week later. The top two picks of the draft -- Browns defensive end Courtney Brown and Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington -- received mixed reviews in their first preseason games.

Each Tuesday from now until the end of the regular season, ESPN.com will hand out its report card on how the new kids are doing. Here's a look at how some of the league's most intriguing rookies faired during their first preseason action:

 

PLAYER, STATS	THE SKINNY
Courtney Brown, DE, Browns vs. Philadelphia	In his first preseason game against the Eagles, Brown was fooled by a fake on the game's first play -- a 9-yard completion from Donovan McNabb to Cecil Martin. However, the defensive end from Penn State generally held his own and knocked down McNabb on one pass rush. "I felt comfortable after the first play," Brown said. "I think I did OK. I did some things wrong, though. I need to work a little on the detail stuff -- the defensive calls and adjusting quicker." In a little more than a quarter, he had no tackles or assists.
LaVar Arrington, LB, Redskins at Bucs	The day after Washington's 13-12 loss to the Buccaneers, coach Norv Turner said he was encouraged by what he saw from the No. 2 overall pick. "He showed me he's going to be a really good football player -- soon," Turner told The Washington Post. However, Arrington was a lot harder on himself. After watching the game tape, Arrington said he was embarrassed. "If I can't sit there and watch myself play, then there's something wrong," the linebacker said. "I had trouble watching myself play that game. I will never let that happen again." Arrington is still practicing with the second string.
Chris Samuels, OL, Redskins at Bucs	The left tackle, who is firmly entrenched as a starter, impressed at least one person in his preseason debut. Buccaneers defensive linemen Marcus Jones had high praise for the Alabama alum. "Chris Samuels is going to be a heck of a ballplayer," Jones told The Washington Post. "He showed great footwork. He could be one of the best."
Peter Warrick, WR, Bengals at Buffalo 2 rec., 31 yards	In limited action against the Bills, Warrick showed his play-making ability. In the opening drive of the game, Warrick caught a tipped pass off the hands of a Bengals receiver. Warrick got to the ball before it hit the ground and turned it into a 24-yard reception. With Darnay Scott out for the season with a broken leg, the Bengals will be counting on Warrick to make an immediate impact.
Jamal Lewis, RB, Ravens	The fifth overall pick was expected to compete for a starting job. Those plans were put on hold when Lewis dislocated his left elbow in a scrimmage against the Redskins on July 28. "I thought it was broke," Lewis said. "I'd never felt that kind of pain before. Luckily, it was just dislocated." He will miss 4-6 weeks and should be back in time for the Sept. 3 regular-season opener at Pittsburgh. However, missing the entire preseason will certainly set Lewis back.
Thomas Jones, RB, Cardinals vs. Broncos 8 att., 18 yards 1 rec., 7 yards	The No. 7 pick from Virginia looked like a rookie in his first preseason game, carrying the ball eight times for 18 yards. "Sometimes a young player tries to do too much," coach Vince Tobin told the Arizona Republic. "I thought he tried to make too many moves. In college, you can make those moves and make a defender fall down. Those guys don't fall down here. He learned a lot." While the Cardinals obviously drafted Jones to play, don't expect them to just hand him the starting job. Michael Pittman was very impressive last year before injuries cut short his season, and he carried the ball six times for 51 yards in the Cards' preseason opener.
Plaxico Burress, WR, Steelers vs. Dolphins 0 rec.	The 6-foot-5 receiver out of Michigan State made a big splash in his first preseason game and then came back down to earth some in his second. Burress, the No. 8 pick in the draft, came in on the second series of the Steelers' preseason opener and Kordell Stewart promptly went to him on three of the next six snaps. He finished the game with four receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown. In his second preseason game, Burress did not have a catch. However, some of that can attributed to the struggles of Stewart, who was 0-for-6 while playing most of the first half.
Brian Urlacher, LB, Bears vs. Giants	In his first preseason game, the rookie linebacker from New Mexico showed off the speed that made him one of the draft's most intriguing prospects. On the first series of the Bears' 20-8 victory over the Giants, Urlacher chased down running back Tiki Barber from behind, holding him to a 4-yard gain.
Ron Dayne, RB, Giants vs. Bears 17 att., 48 yds. 2 rec., 18 yards	If the bruising running back proved anything in his first preseason game it was that he can actually catch the football. Dayne caught two passes for 18 yards -- exactly twice as many catches as he had in his senior season at Wisconsin.
Bubba Franks, TE, Packers vs. Jets 2 rec., 29 yards	Franks had a good debut, catching two passes for 29 yards in the Packers' 37-24 victory over the Jets. While Tyrone Davis could end up starting at tight end when the season opens, the Packers used the 14th pick on Franks in anticipation that he would eventually replace Mark Chumura.
Sebastian Janikowski, K, Raiders at Rams 1-for-2 FGs	Perhaps no first-round pick has as much pressure on his shoulders as the controversial kicker from Florida State. On the field for the first time, Janikowski made a 46-yard field goal on his first attempt but missed from 35 when he hit the left upright. His kickoffs went to the St. Louis 7, 20, 3 and 1. "I was a little nervous," Janikowski told The Contra Costa Times. "It feels good to make the first one, but it doesn't feel good to miss the second one. I can miss now but hopefully not in the season."
Chad Pennington, QB, Jets at Packers 7-for-11 136 yds.	The rookie signal-caller from Marshall was very impressive in his second preseason game with the Jets. Pennington led the Jets on two touchdown drives -- completing a 67-yard pass to Dedric Ward on the first drive. In two preseason games he has led six drives to 24 points.
Shaun Alexander, RB, Seahawks vs. Colts 10 att., 57 yds., 2 TD 1 rec., 4 yds.	In his first preseason game, Alexander showed why everyone in Seattle was ecstatic when he was still available at No. 19. The fourth running back taken in the 2000 draft, Alexander finished the game with 10 carries, 57 yards and two touchdowns. "I had some fun out there," the former Alabama star told the Seattle Times. "It was a good start and now I'm looking to build on this."
R. Jay Soward, WR, Jaguars at Panthers 2 rec., 48 yds.	Considered a reach by some at No. 29 in the first round, the speedy receiver from USC made a splash in his first preseason game. Soward caught a second-quarter pass from Jamie Martin, eluded the Panthers' safety, then took off for 39 yards to the Carolina 11. "He showed his explosiveness," Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin told the Charlotte Observer. Soward lost six yards on his only punt return of the game.