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Valentine Holmes' Jets teammates were cringing after the former Cronulla star was crunched in an NFL scrimmage, but he also impressed by shaking it off.

Valentine Holmes has received a brutal welcome to the NFL and it was his New York Jets teammates who delivered the big hits on the former NRL star in a scrimmage.

The team scrimmage came ahead of Thursday's first preseason game against cross-city rivals the New York Giants where the Australian is expected to make his NFL debut.

The New York Post reported some Jets teammates "were cringing" when Holmes was smashed during Saturday's scrimmage, but he also impressed when he "popped up after both hits".

Holmes appeared to be headed for a touchdown on one of the plays but 188cm tall, 107kg linebacker Neville Hewitt stopped the Australian in his tracks.

"There was one big hit I got today where I just turned up the field and I got kind of cleaned out, but that's the sport," Holmes told reporters.

"You just get back up, get back out there and keep going."

Just like former South Sydney Rabbitohs junior Jordan Mailata last year with the Philadelphia Eagles and Jarryd Hayne with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, Holmes is not only learning the complexities of the NFL but dealing with playing in a helmet and heavy pads while competing with elite athletes who have been playing the sport since they were children.

"It's quite hot wearing all of the pads and the helmets compared to what I'm used to playing in, but it is going good," Holmes said.

"I'm really enjoying it.

"It's totally different.

"It's like learning a new language."

Holmes is also dealing with being hit by an NFL player from different angles compared to the NRL.

"It is different," he said.

"I mean, you can't really see the hits coming in the sport but in rugby league you can kind of see who's coming at you, who is trying to tackle you so you can kind of evade them."

The Jets have about 90 players on the roster, but will slash it to 53 as the team plays four preseason games ahead of the September 8 regular season opener against the Buffalo Bills.

Holmes is considered a long shot to make the 53 and, as a participant in the NFL's International Pathway program, is guaranteed a place on the Jets practice squad.

Practice squad players train with the team, but do not play games.

Holmes hopes to make the most of his opportunities in the preseason games against the Giants, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints and Mailata's Eagles.

"That was my first scrimmage against kind of a real-life situation type thing, so I'm just trying to take it day-by-day and impress the coaches and try and learn what I can do," Holmes said.

"I'd like to make the 53 or even the practice squad, but we'll see how we go."