The NFL is back Thursday with more preseason action as the regular season approaches. The final week of preseason games begins with four matchups on the schedule, giving teams one last opportunity to evaluate roster battles before final cuts.
With most established starters unlikely to see extended action, fans can keep an eye on players competing for roster spots and veterans getting one final tune-up ahead of their season opener.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers will all close their exhibition schedules Thursday before turning their attention to Week 1.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills
Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
- Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
- TV: NFL Network
- Streaming: NFL+
The Steelers and Bills open Thursday’s slate at Highmark Stadium, with both teams using the finale primarily for roster evaluation. Pittsburgh has spent the preseason evaluating Will Howard and Drew Allar behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph, while Buffalo has confirmed that Josh Allen will not play, although some starters are expected to see action.
Pittsburgh enters at 1-1 in the preseason, while Buffalo is 2-0. The Steelers’ biggest question is how much Mike McCarthy wants to see from his young quarterbacks before roster cuts, particularly Howard, who is still fighting for a place on the 53-man roster. Rodgers has not played in the first two preseason games, so his absence has kept the focus on the younger quarterbacks.
Buffalo, meanwhile, is using the game to make final evaluations around the roster. Allen’s absence means the Bills’ backup quarterbacks will receive the majority of the snaps.
New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
- Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
- Streaming: Prime Video
The Patriots and Browns meet at Cleveland Browns Stadium. New England is 1-0-1 in the preseason after a 13-13 tie against the Indianapolis Colts and a 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Drake Maye is not expected to play, and the Patriots will continue to keep an eye on the depth behind their starter. The Browns enter their preseason finale with their biggest quarterback decision already settled. After considering Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders throughout training camp and the first two preseason games, Todd Monken named Watson the starter for Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, giving the veteran another opportunity to reclaim the QB1 role after missing the 2025 season.
Neither Watson nor Sanders will get another preseason appearance Thursday. Monken has decided to rest both quarterbacks, instead giving Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green extended opportunities in the finale.
For both teams, special teams and depth positions will be particularly important with roster cuts approaching Sunday.
San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
- Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
- TV: Local broadcast
- Streaming: NFL+
The 49ers travel to Allegiant Stadium for their preseason finale after beating the Chargers 41-17 in Week 2. San Francisco has a number of roster decisions remaining, but Kyle Shanahan is expected to rest many of his established starters Thursday.
That means players competing for roster spots will receive the spotlight. The 49ers also have to balance their evaluations with their upcoming trip to Australia for their Week 1 matchup against the Rams, making it especially logical to protect key veterans.
Las Vegas is also closing out its preseason at home after beating Houston 22-20 last week. Klint Kubiak has yet to announce their starting quarterback for Thursday’s preseason finale.
Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
- Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
- TV: NFL Network
- Streaming: NFL+
The preseason closes Thursday night in Los Angeles with the Rams facing the Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Unlike several teams on the slate, the Chargers are expected to give Justin Herbert some preseason work. Herbert is slated to start the finale as the Chargers continue preparing their offense for the regular season.
The Rams have taken a different approach with Matthew Stafford, who has not needed preseason action to establish himself as the starter. Instead, Stetson Bennett and the rest of Los Angeles’ depth will get another opportunity to compete. Bennett threw for 181 yards in the preseason matchup with the Chargers, according to ESPN’s game data.
The matchup also gives the Chargers another look at Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei, who have been competing for the backup quarterback role behind Herbert.
NFL Week 1: First Regular-Season Games for Thursday’s Teams
Once Thursday’s preseason action ends, these eight teams will turn their attention to their regular-season openers:
- Patriots: at Seattle Seahawks, Sept. 9. New England opens the regular season Wednesday night at 7:20 p.m. ET.
- 49ers: vs Rams, Sept. 10 at 8:35 p.m. ET in Melbourne, Australia.
- Steelers: vs. Atlanta Falcons, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET.
- Bills: at Houston Texans, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET.
- Browns: at Jacksonville Jaguars, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET.
- Raiders: vs Miami Dolphins, Sept. 13 at 4:25 p.m. ET.
- Chargers: vs. Arizona Cardinals, Sept. 13 at 4:25 p.m. ET.
