2024 NFL Preseason, Week 3: One thing to watch for on each of the 32 teams

• WHERE: Paycor Stadium (Cincinnati)
• WHEN: 8 p.m. ET (Prime Video, NFL+*)

COLTS: The Colts’ starting defensive line would appear set, with DTs DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart locked in and rookie Laiatu Latu in likely to join Kwity Paye as their bookends. Others likely in the second-team mix include DTs Taven Bryan and Adetomiwa Adebawore and DEs Dayo Odeyingbo and Tyquan Lewis, although it was noteworthy to see Odeyingbo play deep into the fourth quarter last week against the Cardinals. Oh, and Raekwon Davis is aiming to get on the field after returning from the NFI list this week. So there’s a little confusion as to how this group will fully play out. Keep an eye on rookie pass rusher Isaiah Land, who’s making a late push for the roster, as is veteran Genard Avery.

BENGALS: At least two guys -- and possibly a third -- are battling for a starting corner job with the Bengals. The expectation is that DJ Turner and Dax Hill are the most likely candidates to earn the spot opposite Cam Taylor-Britt, with Mike Hilton manning the slot again. Both Turner and Hill have fared well so far in the preseason, with Hill receiving more work through two games, for what that’s worth. Don’t forget about rookie Josh Newton, who had an up-and-down outing in Chicago last week but has otherwise opened eyes all summer. Depending on which corners play against the Colts, we could have an idea as to who will start Week 1, and though Newton is more likely to get his shot later in the year (if at all), a steadier performance in this game could help springboard him into the season.

• WHERE: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Mo.)
• WHEN: 8:20 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

BEARS: We’ve seen enough, and so have the Bears -- they are smartly sitting Caleb Williams for Thursday’s game against the Chiefs. Through two preseason contests, the offense had a hiccup or two, but it’s been rightfully overshadowed by Williams’ explosive playmaking, which has Bears fans lathered up like we’ve rarely witnessed before. The strong play of QB2 Tyson Bagent has only excited them more. One battle that might be settled Thursday could be at punt returner. Last week, the Bears gave punt-return chances to Nsimba Webster, Josh Blackwell and Dante Pettis; in previous preseason action, DeAndre Carter and Greg Stroman Jr. were tried there. All are in competition for roster spots on offense or defense. The way punt returns are divided this week could help us read the tea leaves. But remember: The Bears switched returners at cutdown day a year ago. They still could go out-of-house for their early season answer here.

CHIEFS: The Chiefs have only two running backs with legitimate NFL experience in Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, so how they handle that room on the opening 53-man roster will be interesting. It’s possible they keep only three backs initially, which would mean rookie Carson Steele and Deneric Prince could have a lot riding on the final exhibition contest. Steele has been the summer darling for Chiefs Nation, with his flowing locks, hard running and positional versatility getting everyone excited about his potential. Recovering a fumble on kickoff coverage against the Lions can only help the UDFA’s chances of making it. Prince, meanwhile, ripped off a 41-yard run last week. The mistake he made on a kickoff return that led to a safety in Week 1 ago surely didn’t help his cause, but he’s had a strong enough summer overall to be on watch for this final contest. 

• WHERE: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
• WHEN: 7 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

JAGUARS: The Jaguars appear deep at wide receiver, defensive line and cornerback. The final one or two WR spots could come down to Tim Jones, Elijah Cooks, Joshua Cephus and Austin Trammell. Can any of them make some noise in the final preseason game? Rookie pass rusher Myles Cole had two pressures against the Bucs and might be in decent position for a roster spot, but fellow rookie Jordan Jefferson needs to show something if he wants to make it as an interior backup. In the secondary, Montaric Brown isn’t a lock to make the roster despite starting six games last season. Rookies Jarrian Jones and Deantre Prince have looked the part, and Christian Braswell is getting every shot to make it and push Brown out. How the CB rotation shakes out against Atlanta will tell us a lot.

FALCONS: Falcons head coach Raheem Morris had an interesting response when asked why Michael Penix Jr. didn’t play against the Ravens, saying that Penix “showed us last week enough that we don’t have to play him in the preseason.” So that’s that, it appears. And we know Kirk Cousins won’t suit up against the Jaguars, making this a Taylor Heinicke-John Paddock game, for those scoring at home. Paddock might be a practice-squad candidate, but the fate of Heinicke might be more interesting. The Falcons kept him out there for 34 snaps last week, perhaps showcasing him for a possible trade this week or later. Is that the plan for Saturday, as well? I’ll be curious to see how Morris plays this.

• WHERE: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Fla.)
• WHEN: 7:30 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

DOLPHINS: After Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa led a perfect opening drive against the Commanders last week, the stage was set for the QB2 showdown between Skylar Thompson and Mike White to continue. But are we any closer to settling that contest? Thompson completed only eight of 15 passes for 61 yards, playing into the third quarter. White outgunned Thompson after that, albeit against Washington’s deep reserves. Through two preseason games, both White and Thompson are completing under 50 percent of their passes, with each attempting 34 throws. White has taken more sacks (three to Thompson’s one), but Thompson has looked skittish at times. The showdown could be decided in the preseason finale against Tampa Bay. Winner takes the backup job, and the assumption here is that the loser is signed back to the practice squad. 

BUCCANEERS: With YaYa Diaby remaining out with an ankle injury and Randy Gregory out of the picture, the Bucs’ pass rush comes into focus for this final preseason outing. Once Diaby returns, he and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka are your likely starters, with Anthony Nelson in the mix. But there are a number of young players worth monitoring who could make fast rises the way Diaby did a year ago. Diaby played a lot of snaps in the final preseason game in 2023 and ended up being a midseason starter. We can’t rule out something similar happening with a player such as Chris Braswell, Markees Watts or Jose Ramirez -- the latter of whom had three sacks last week against the Jaguars. Tryon-Shoyinka and Nelson are both entering contract seasons, so the Bucs want to find young depth, and they’ll have plenty to examine after this game.

• WHERE: Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
• WHEN: 10 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

49ERS: Brock Purdy saw limited action last week, and it didn’t go well -- not surprising, considering who was missing. The two big holdouts (Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk), plus George Kittle, two other starting linemen and most of the backfield sat out against the Saints, and Purdy struggled to do much in his three quick series worth of work. However, the 49ers have done it a little differently than other NFL teams, so his starters are expected to see extended time in this game. Can they catch a little offensive rhythm prior to the start of the season? It will be interesting to see which other starters are healthy enough (or available) to suit up.

RAIDERS: Gardner Minshew has officially won the starting job for Week 1, which has to be disappointing for Aidan O’Connell, but he’d figure to have one last chance against the 49ers to leave a positive impression prior to the regular season. It also feels like the story isn't quite finished yet; if Minshew struggles early in the season, O’Connell has to be ready to step in. He figured to have somewhat of an edge in this race, having made 10 starts last year, but the pick-six against the Cowboys felt like the final blow to his immediate hopes. This week’s game also could help decide who will serve as the Raiders’ third-down back, with Ameer Abdullah and sixth-round pick Dylan Laube the most likely options. It seems like a tight battle now.

• WHERE: Highmark Stadium (Orchard Park, N.Y.)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

PANTHERS: Dave Canales opted to sit most of his starters last week and could do the same here, but he has to find some answers in the secondary. Jaycee Horn will start at one outside cornerback spot, but with Dane Jackson (hamstring) out at least six weeks, there is a starting gig now unexpectedly open. With Lamar Jackson being waived due to injury, Dicaprio Bootle and D’Shawn Jamison figure to be the primary candidates for that role, and both played well last week, especially Jamison. But don’t count out undersized rookie Chau Smith-Wade, who is cross-training inside and outside and has garnered attention. If general manager Dan Morgan wants some cutdown trade chatter, all he has to do is walk over to see his former boss, Bills GM Brandon Beane. Let’s make a preseason deal!

BILLS: It was hard to make too many judgments from last week’s win over the Steelers, given that several key players sat. But I’m hoping the momentum the Bills seemed to gain in the run game carries over. Even if James Cook is more of a bystander against Carolina, give me Ray Davis all day and all of the night. Davis was one of the SEC’s best rushers last season, yet slipped to late Round 4 in the draft, and he looked good against the Steelers last week. Cook remains the bell cow, but I could see Davis earning a role in this offense as a changeup runner. Let’s see if he can have his best preseason effort to date.

• WHERE: Ford Field (Detroit)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

STEELERS: The Steelers’ offensive struggles have been hard to ignore through two games, with only seven first downs and zero points generated from the first team on eight drives. Russell Wilson struggled to get much going in his preseason debut in Pittsburgh, as the offensive line didn’t protecting him well. Justin Fields was only marginally better in Wilson's place. Then Jaylen Warren suffered an injury that could shelve him into the regular season. Penalties also have been an issue. Wilson could have closed the QB competition with a strong performance, but that door appears to remain ajar for now. Who knows how Mike Tomlin will handle this? Will Wilson and Fields have one more preseason duel with which to settle this battle?

LIONS: I’m really interested in seeing who the Lions choose to back up Jared Goff. Although Goff has been a rock, starting 35 straight regular-season games, the Lions need to figure out if Hendon Hooker is up for the job. They can always turn to Nate Sudfeld as QB2 to start out, and keeping three quarterbacks on the initial roster remains possible. But for a team that considers itself a Super Bowl contender, three QBs might be viewed as a luxury. Hooker had his best performance as a Lion last week, completing 12 of 15 passes for 150 yards and running for a score. I’d love to see him receive the lion’s share of the snaps against the Steelers to see if Hooker can win that backup job outright. It will also be one last chance for preseason hero and new fan favorite Sione Vaki to impress and make his case for the opening 53.

• WHERE: Lambeau Field (Green Bay, Wis.)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET ( NFL+*)

RAVENS: With the regular season closing in, the Ravens’ top three wideouts would appear to be Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor. After that, it gets murky. Devontez Walker figured to be close to a roster lock after the Ravens took him in Round 4, but he’s had a frustrating, injury-marred summer. Deonte Harty’s return ability helps his chances, but what does he offer as a receiver? Fourth-year pro Tylan Wallace finally looked to be settling in, but the recently added Anthony Miller might be challenging Wallace. There’s also a slew of other WR candidates (like Russell Gage, Keith Kirkwood and Malik Cunningham) trying to elbow their way in. Can Wallace hang onto his spot? Is Miller poised to be a late mover? Some of these answers could be settled shortly after Saturday’s game at Lambeau.

PACKERS: With the starters sitting last week, the Packers' offense put up a dismal performance. Green Bay totaled 168 yards of offense, with a long gain of 15 yards; the only two drives that went longer than 22 yards ended in an interception and a missed field-goal try. The issues extended far beyond quarterback. The dirty little secret is that the Packers can’t feel comfortable if Jordan Love were to miss any regular-season time. Sean Clifford and seventh-round pick Michael Pratt remain locked in a QB2 battle, and it might go all the way through Saturday’s game against the Ravens. Neither has run away with the job, and it’s a scary thought that such an important role could be settled in this survival-of-the-least-fit kind of way.

• WHERE: NRG Stadium (Houston)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

RAMS: Following a four-interception performance in the first preseason game, Stetson Bennett settled down with a much stronger outing against the Chargers last week. He likely will see more reps in this game against Houston as a tune-up for his role as Matthew Stafford’s understudy for Weeks 1 and 2 against the Lions and Cardinals, while Jimmy Garoppolo serves his two-game suspension. This is obviously worrisome, considering Stafford’s age (36), recent injury history and the fact that he left joint practices against the Cowboys with hamstring tightness. The Rams need to give Bennett all the reps he can handle until then, and the trick will be to do so without getting him hurt. So far, so good.

TEXANS: Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans called the RB2 battle behind Joe Mixon a “tight competition” heading into the preseason finale against the Rams. The prime candidates for that job are Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale, Cam Akers, J.J. Taylor and rookie Jawhar Jordan. Each of them brings something to the table, and the Texans might end up keeping at least three of them on the initial 53-man roster. Akers has far outslugged Pierce in terms of preseason production, though practice performance also matters. His recent emergence, after his 2023 campaign was shortened by a torn Achilles in November, has been an unexpected boon; he might have this game to convince the powers that be that he’s worth rostering initially. Jordan also will have a chance to show out, even if he could be an ideal practice-squad candidate. 

• WHERE: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
• WHEN: 1 p.m. ET (NFL+*)

VIKINGS: The Vikings’ QB deck has been reshuffled, thanks to the season-ending injury to J.J. McCarthy, but there’s still a question as to how many quarterbacks the team will keep initially. Before McCarthy was hurt, they figured to be a three-QB team, with Sam Darnold starting, Nick Mullens as the backup and McCarthy as the third. Does Minnesota need three now? That might depend on what the team thinks of 2023 fifth-rounder Jaren Hall. Hall threw a pretty TD that went for 71 yards in the fourth quarter last week, playing better than he did the week prior. But it might take a strong game against the Eagles to convince the Vikings not to try to sneak Hall through to the practice squad. 

EAGLES: Health does not favor the Eagles right now, as they find themselves pretty thin in a few spots heading into Saturday’s preseason finale against the Vikings. Cooper DeJean’s injury-interrupted camp has put them in a position where they might not be able to fully rely on him in the slot role early, exposing a lack of depth when it comes to slot-capable DBs. The offensive line, long a bedrock group, is a bit nicked up, and the second-team unit hasn’t looked quite as sturdy as one might hope. Those are the two positions I’m most locked in on for this final preseason game, to see how the Eagles handle the snaps there. If first-round pick Quinyon Mitchell really is set to start outside and move into the slot -- and coordinator Vic Fangio believes those are two vastly different roles -- then it will be asking a lot of the rookie. Will the Eagles give him some extra reps against the Vikings as a brush-up?

• WHERE: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
• WHEN: 4 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

CHARGERS: The Chargers have to be concerned about Easton Stick struggling through both of his preseason outings following the injury to Justin Herbert. Even if Herbert ends up fine for Week 1, there’s no guarantee he will be fully healthy then -- or throughout the course of the season. Yet, Jim Harbaugh has remained upbeat regarding Herbert’s prognosis and will give Stick the third preseason game to try to prove himself after a two-turnover half against the Rams last week. If Stick struggles again, would the Chargers need to make a QB move prior to the opener? This could end up being a major development.

COWBOYS: The Cowboys saw some encouraging developments last game. QB Trey Lance started slowly but found his groove, hurting the Raiders’ starting defense with both his arm and his legs. I’d love to see more of that type of confidence-building play from him. Tyler Guyton also stepped in at left tackle and acquitted himself well, although the Cowboys might opt to sit him and other starters against the Chargers. If nothing else, come for the kicking show. Brandon Aubrey hit a 66-yarder last week and will be squaring off against one of the best in the Chargers’ Cameron Dicker. I’m all in favor of watching these guys bomb kicks all night.

• WHERE: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)
• WHEN: 7:30 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

GIANTS: There are quite a few unsettled positions for the Giants, including in the secondary. Deonte Banks will start on one side, but there's still a battle for the other outside CB spot between Cor'Dale Flott and Nick McCloud, although Flott is dealing with a quad injury that kept him out last week, and McCloud was pretty much done after the first quarter. It's a good sign for the Giants that Dru Phillips is practicing again; his absence with an ankle injury hurt the rotation, with Isaiah Simmons being kicked into the slot position out of need. How the bottom of the CB depth chart shakes out is anyone's guess, with Tre Hawkins, Tre Herndon, Darnay Holmes and David Long possibly all in the mix. Safety appears more settled, but it's hardly a deep group. There's a lot to work through here prior to Week 1.

JETS: The annual New York-New York preseason finale could play out as a last audition for several deep reserves, with an interesting situation developing at cornerback. The top of the depth chart is settled, with Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II. But roles and roster spots would appear to be up for grabs thereafter. Fifth-rounder Qwan'tez Stiggers has looked the part and is playing himself into some kind of role, it appears, displaying a fearless style on defense and special teams. Brandin Echols is a special-teams standout and likely to make the roster, but his participation on defense has waned significantly since he started 14 games in 2021. Is the door open for converted safety Jarrick Bernard-Converse to earn a role? Getting hurt against the Panthers didn't help his cause. Or can Brandon Codrington, who adds return ability, squeeze his way onto the team?

• WHERE: Lumen Field (Seattle)
• WHEN: 10 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

BROWNS: The injury issues of 2023 have rolled over to this year, too, and there's a mini-crisis potentially brewing at offensive tackle. In last week's game against the Vikings, the Browns lost three key OT options to injury: James Hudson (ankle), Germain Ifedi (hand) and Hakeem Adeniji (knee). Ifedi returned to practice, but Hudson will miss time and Adeniji landed on injured reserve. Cleveland already was without starting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. and veteran right tackle Jack Conklin, who remain on the PUP list, and Wills' status for Week 1 seems very much up in the air. Undrafted rookie Lorenzo Thompson ended up playing 31 snaps at left tackle last week because of the shortages. Who'll play tackle against the Seahawks, with QB Deshaun Watson potentially in line to get some playing time? Dawand Jones figures to be the right tackle, but the lack of healthy bodies there right now is concerning and could result in some interesting decisions before rosters are trimmed.

SEAHAWKS: Geno Smith hasn't received a preseason snap yet this year, but that could change against the Browns. Smith's job as QB1 is secure right now, with Mike Macdonald possibly wanting his starting unit to get a limited amount of time in this tune-up game to prepare for Denver in Week 1. Even so, it's been encouraging to see Sam Howell keep stacking impressive preseason performances. His second outing was his best, and it came after reports that Howell had trouble with his accuracy in training-camp practices, especially early on. He's also helped give the Seahawks quality looks at their borderline receivers, with Laviska Shenault Jr. making a strong push for a place on the roster and Easop Winston Jr. also showing out in his bid to make it. However, Dee Eskridge (three targets, zero catches this preseason) appears to have fallen back this summer and might need a strong outing against the Browns to lock up a spot.

• WHERE: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
• WHEN: 2 p.m. ET (NFL Network, NFL+*)

TITANS: If there has been a surprising preseason standout, it has been seventh-round pick Jaylen Harrell. The 252nd overall selection (five picks away from being Mr. Irrelevant), Warren has looked like an NFL-caliber defender in camp and two preseason games; he added two more sacks against the Seahawks last week and seems almost certain to make the opening roster. Assuming Arden Key and Harold Landry are the Week 1 starters, the Titans likely will want to see more from their next cadre of rushers in this final preseason game. That interesting group includes Harrell, Rashad Weaver, Caleb Murphy and Shane Ray. 

SAINTS: Rookie DB Kool-Aid McKinstry was working his way into steady early reps with his play. It's lucky for the Saints that he reportedly won't miss significant time after leaving the 49ers game last week with what appeared to be a leg injury. Losing him would surely throw a wrench in the Saints' defensive plans to start the season, even if Alontae Taylor's strong performance against the 49ers provides some comfort in the slot position being covered. On the other side of the ball, there's a big battle at running back. Alvin Kamara's role is locked in, but the other jobs remain wide open, with second-year pro Kendre Miller (who missed the 49ers game with a hamstring injury) needing to make a statement of some kind. Jordan Mims has pushed Miller, with Jamaal Williams and James Robinson also in the mix.

• WHERE: Empower Field at Mile High (Denver)
• WHEN: 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS, NFL+*)

CARDINALS: The Cardinals saw a bump from their pass rush last week against the Colts overall, with Cameron Thomas providing two sacks and six pressures in 26 snaps. Xavier Thomas and Victor Dimukeje, both in competition for roster spots, each provided four pressures in the game, with Thomas adding a sack. Cameron Thomas' positional versatility and Xavier Thomas' improvement likely keep them very much in play for roster spots, while Jesse Luketa and others might have their work cut out for them. The Cardinals have built up their depth quite a bit, to the point that their final roster cutdowns will be interesting. How the pass-rush group shakes out could be decided by what happens in the final dress rehearsal against the Broncos.

BRONCOS: With rookie Bo Nix being named the Broncos' Week 1 starter, the question now pivots to how many quarterbacks Sean Payton will opt to roster. Is there room for both Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson? Earlier this summer, Payton said all three could "possibly" stay on. Both reportedly had encouraging summers during practice, and though neither one looked great against the Packers, Wilson probably was the better of the two this preseason -- even with the regrettable safety vs. Green Bay. Perhaps he can light it up one more time this preseason and harden his chances of making the squad -- or, perhaps, compel a QB-needy team to make an inquiry.

• WHERE: Commanders Field (Landover, Md.)
• WHEN: 8 p.m. ET (NBC, NFL+*)

PATRIOTS: The Patriots still have a lot to figure out prior to Week 1, including who will start at QB. Drake Maye appears to have made it interesting in recent days, but with questions nearly everywhere on the roster -- especially on offense -- I should think Jacoby Brissett remains the odds-on favorite to have the job at the outset. The question becomes whether Maye can build off his performance against the Eagles in Week 2 -- in which he was statistically unimpressive but passed the eye test -- during this game at Washington. The Patriots have offensive-line issues and questions at receiver, with rookie Javon Baker logging two big drops of Maye passes the last time out. Baker and Maye are fighting for reps, but others will be fighting for roster spots in the final game before the regular season. I expect the Patriots to be among the busiest teams around the cutdown deadline as GM Eliot Wolf continues to reshape the team, so there’s plenty riding on Sunday. 

COMMANDERS: With Jayden Daniels being named the starter this week, the Commanders can probably put a lid on him until Week 1 at Tampa Bay. Daniels' solid Week 2 performance was just a taste of the talent that will come in the regular season. What's less clear heading into the opener is who the second receiver will be after Terry McLaurin. Dyami Brown has made a run for the gig, having caught three passes for 19 yards on the first drive against the Dolphins. None of the other candidates for that job made major noise, as Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahan Dotson had quiet nights. Will any or all of them play against New England, likely working with backup QBs? That remains to be seen.