NFL preseason Week 3: Is Dillon Gabriel playing for a Browns roster spot? Steelers' young QBs on display again

The final week of NFL preseason games is upon us.

Each team has one more game to evaluate its personnel before carving out a 53-man regular-season roster and building a practice squad. Some teams approached the preseason with starters playing the first two weeks, intending to sit them this week, while others will have their starters see action only this week.

Thursday's preseason slate consists of four games. The night will begin with the Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the Buffalo Bills . Although a regular-season matchup between these teams would make for a fun quarterback battle, neither Aaron Rodgers nor Josh Allen will suit up.

On Monday, the Cleveland Browns named Deshaun Watson their starting quarterback . But Watson won't play Thursday night against the New England Patriots . His backup, Shedeur Sanders , won't either. That said, Las Vegas Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza could be in line for more action, this time against the San Francisco 49ers . So far, through two appearances, this year's No. 1 overall pick has completed 18 of 31 passes for 183 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

The night concludes with a SoFi Stadium head-to-head between the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers .

Coaches are being coy about who will play in those games, but we're tracking who's in and who's out:

Notables playing: Some undisclosed Bills starters, QBs Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele (Bills), QBs Will Howard and Drew Allar (Steelers)

Bills fans have seen the last of Allen on the field this preseason. Even though head coach Joe Brady didn't make his full plans for the preseason finale public, he did make a point of telling the media that Allen's preseason was over and that he wouldn't be playing Thursday. Brady, however, also teased that Allen could get the opportunity to call some plays. Buffalo's QB2 competition will take center stage in Highmark Stadium, where Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele will continue to duke it out.

Speaking of reserve signal-callers, mums the word on exactly what kind of playing time Will Howard and Drew Allar will get for the Steelers. After impressing versus the Green Bay Packers in Pittsburgh's opener, they struggled last week against the New York Jets , with Howard notably throwing a pair of first-half interceptions . The Steelers are expected to zero in on Howard and Allar again this week, except it's yet to be seen if Aaron Rodgers will be called upon, too. It sounds as if head coach Mike McCarthy is satisfied with Mason Rudolph 's tape from the opener versus the Packers.

Notables playing: QBs Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green (Browns)

Notables out: Browns starters, including QB Deshaun Watson; QB Shedeur Sanders (Browns); Patriots starters, including QB Drake Maye and WR A.J. Brown

Browns head coach Todd Monken revealed that he won't be trotting out his starters Thursday against the Patriots . That group includes Watson. He also said Sanders won't be out there. Dillon Gabriel, meanwhile, is in position to play a good portion of the game. Gabriel, whom Cleveland selected in the third round last year and who started six games during the 2025 season, could be fighting for a roster spot if the Browns aren't keen on keeping four QBs. Green, a sixth-round pick from this year's draft, is regarded as a developmental quarterback with tantalizing athleticism ( he wowed at the NFL scouting combine ).

As for New England , it's been prioritizing the health of its first-teamers this preseason. The Patriots aren't deviating from that strategy for the finale. There are still Pats players to watch, though. If the past couple of weeks are any indication, second-year wideout Kyle Williams could get a good bit of run. That's important to monitor after New England traded receiver Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans earlier this week .

Notables playing: RGs Jackson Powers-Johnson, Caleb Rogers (Raiders)

Notables out: QB Brock Purdy (49ers), RB Christian McCaffrey (49ers), WR Mike Evans (49ers)

The 49ers are expected to rest many of their starters. San Francisco has been overwhelmed by injuries this summer, so you can't fault head coach Kyle Shanahan for wanting to get his team some rest when he can. Plus, the Niners are gearing up for a short turnaround because of their trip to Australia for their season opener against the Rams .

Shanahan indicated the 49ers will approach this week's game against the Raiders like they did their first preseason game against the Tennessee Titans . So it's likely San Francisco will be without quarterback Brock Purdy, running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Mike Evans, among others. It'll be interesting to keep an eye on rookie wideout De'Zhaun Stribling. The Ole Miss product is intriguing and has piled up 11 preseason receptions. Time will tell if he's given an opportunity to add to that total.

Fernando Mendoza has been racking up reps, even some with the first-team offense, throughout training camp, but Kirk Cousins is still the first-string quarterback … for now . It wouldn't be surprising to see Mendoza receive additional work Thursday in Vegas. Up front, the Raiders are surveying a two-way race for the top spot at right guard. Jackson Powers-Johnson, a 2024 second-round pick, is involved and so is Caleb Rogers, a 2025 third-round pick.

Notables playing: Chargers starters, including QB Justin Herbert and C Jake Slaughter, for "six to nine plays," QB Ty Simpson (Rams), QBs Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei (Chargers)

Rams head coach Sean McVay, who famously doesn't play starters in the preseason, wasn't very vocal about his approach to his team's final exhibition game, particularly regarding who would be playing. He did make a point of saying that rookie quarterback Ty Simpson will play. Simpson turned in an eye-catching debut, whereas backup Stetson Bennett IV had the more captivating performance last week .

The Chargers will be rolling out their starters for "six to nine plays" Thursday, according to head coach Jim Harbaugh . As a result, we'll be privy to another glimpse of Justin Herbert operating in the Mike McDaniel offense. Jake Slaughter is expected to be the one snapping him the ball. Slaughter, a rookie out of Florida whom the Chargers took in the second round, is filling the void left by Tyler Biadasz , who was placed on injured reserve last week due to an ACL injury he sustained during a joint practice with the 49ers .