Louis Rees-Zammit made a try-scoring return to the English top flight as Bristol beat Leicester 42-24 in their Premiership opener at Ashton Gate on Sunday.
The Wales wing starred in his first Premiership appearance since December 2023 after leaving Gloucester to pursue a career in American football.
Rees-Zammit earned training deals with Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars, but he did not feature in a regular-season NFL game before becoming Bristol's showpiece pre-season signing.
Although he had few chances against Leicester, the 24-year-old showed he still knew how to finish with a 60-metre breakaway effort in the final minute.
And Bristol boss Pat Lam expects Rees-Zammit to "get better and better".
"That was his first 80 minutes since he has come back," said Lam. "Every day he is getting better and better, and what I liked about his game today was that he was physically good in the contact as well.
"He did not get it easy, and that will give him a lot of confidence."
Bristol, beaten in last season's play-off semifinals by eventual champions Bath, won despite three of Rees-Zammit's fellow backs – AJ MacGinty, Harry Randall and Gabriel Ibitoye – all suffering injuries.
"AJ looks like he has done his Achilles," said Lam. "That looks the most serious. Harry Randall and Gabriel Ibitoye are hamstring injuries.
"The one thing about AJ is he is so professional, and in the past, he has come back quicker. You never know."
DETERMINATION
Meanwhile, Exeter supremo Rob Baxter said an astounding second-half fightback in a 33-33 draw at Northampton on Sunday proved their determination to keep a promise he made to supporters.
The Chiefs finished a lowly ninth last season, suffering several heavy defeats.
Exeter looked destined for more of the same when they were 33-7 behind at halftime in Northampton, with the Saints establishing a commanding lead after 19-year-old Italian wing Edoardo Todaro scored two tries on his league debut.
But Exeter stormed back after the break to end the match all square.
"The one thing I promised everybody at the club, and every supporter who's asked me what's going to happen this season, I promised them wins, I promised them points, I promised them a good place in the table, I promised them we would be a more competitive team," said Baxter.
