CLEVELAND – After a goin injury held rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson out of the first two preseason games and much of training camp, his NFL debut against the Browns on Saturday was highly anticipated. It's safe to say the second-round pick lived up to the hype.

On the Rams' fifth drive, Ferguson tracked a deep ball over his back shoulder for a 33-yard reception. Ferguson beat safety Rayshawn Jenkins off the line of scrimmage on a slot fade before quarterback Dresser Winn dropped in a well-placed ball and Ferguson slid down in bounds to secure it. After that, he did get up untouched and run another 30 yards or so for a touchdown that got called back because he stepped out of bounds.

"It was a good play they called up for me," Ferguson said on the broadcast. "I knew my number and Dresser was gonna come to me, so it's a big thing for me to have that first catch, stretch the field a little bit, showcase vertical speed."

Ferguson only played the first half the game, but still finished with two catches for 48 yards in the preseason finale at Huntington Bank Field, flashing his explosive potential in the Rams' 17-19 loss.

General manager Les Snead praised Ferguson's ball-tracking and body control on the TV broadcast, adding that he fits the Rams' offensive identity nicely. He also said the Rams' have discussed increasing their use of 12 personnel this season (one running back, two tight ends), as they have a deep and talented tight end group.

"He can track a ball," Snead said. "And upper-body flexibility, some nuances that you have where you can twist and turn and make that catch and what you can do after the catch. So there's some nuances to his game that fits what (head coach) Sean (McVay and) his offensive staff likes to do... That's the reason we put him off the board in round 2."

"You feel him, he's just got a nice pace to his game," McVay said postgame. "I thought it was great to be able to get him out there."

A few plays after his big gain, Ferguson was targeted again on a check-and release. He snagged the ball around the line of scrimmage, broke a tackle and then kept his legs churning through contact from multiple defenders for a gain of 15. Picking up tough yards with the ball in his hands was a specialty of Ferguson's at Oregon, where he led the FBS in yards after catch per reception (9.0) among qualified tight ends in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus.

Ferguson was more of a pass-catcher than a blocker at Oregon, so it was important for him to get some blocking reps at the NFL level, as color analyst Mina Kimes mentioned. Ferguson seemingly didn't miss any assignments and held his own against some of the Browns' starting defenders.

On the Rams' fourth drive, Ferguson beat a safety on a slot fade, the same route that later led to his first NFL reception, but the throw from Winn flew too far toward the sideline and fell incomplete. Head coach McVay said on the TV broadcast that he "really liked" that route execution, but they just missed him. So, they tried it again on the very next drive and capitalized.

That could foreshadow Ferguson's early career. He may only see limited opportunities and endure some trial and error, but his upside is undeniable.

"I felt great out there," Ferguson said postgame. "Everyone's done a great job of just making sure that I'm healthy and where I need to be."