NFL Preseason Week 3 Puts Quarterback Choices and Roster Spots in Focus

NFL preseason Week 3, scheduled for Aug. 27-29, is the final game window before teams trim their rosters for the regular season. For players on the edge of a roster and teams still sorting out quarterback plans, playing time and role can matter as much as the final score.

Quarterback decisions remain central

Cleveland’s matchup with New England on Thursday, Aug. 27, is one of the week’s most important quarterback evaluations. The Browns are weighing Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders under offensive coordinator Todd Monken, with Watson returning after missing the entire 2024 season because of an Achilles injury.

Sanders’ 2025 regular-season production shows why this preseason decision carries real weight. In eight games, he threw for 1,400 yards with seven touchdown passes and 10 interceptions while taking 23 sacks. His final three games included one touchdown pass in each of the first two, followed by a Week 18 outing against Cincinnati in which he was sacked six times. Those numbers do not settle a camp competition by themselves, especially without play-by-play context such as pass attempts and supporting cast, but they underline the need for steadier results.

Atlanta also has a major decision at quarterback. The Falcons are choosing between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr., who has not yet been fully cleared for contact. Atlanta plays Miami on Friday, Aug. 28, making the game a notable checkpoint for both the Falcons’ depth chart and the Dolphins’ roster evaluations.

More than the starting lineup

Week 3 does not only determine who starts. It can help coaches decide which backup quarterbacks, receivers, runners, linemen and special-teams contributors have earned roles when the active roster is set. Some clubs use the final preseason game as a rehearsal for the regular season, while others limit veteran starters and give longer opportunities to younger players.

Miami’s wide receiver group and Carolina’s backfield have drawn attention as position groups to monitor. The value of those games may be found in smaller details: whether a player gets repeated chances with one offensive unit, handles multiple assignments, protects the quarterback, or contributes on special teams. A productive stat line helps, but a player’s job can also depend on reliable execution in the role a coaching staff needs.

Thursday’s opening slate also includes Pittsburgh at Buffalo, San Francisco at Las Vegas and the Los Angeles Rams against the Los Angeles Chargers. Cincinnati visits Philadelphia on Friday. The schedule provides a final broad look at how teams distribute snaps before games begin counting in the standings.

What fans should watch

Online preseason discussion has focused on quarterback competitions, Miami’s receiver depth and Carolina’s running back roles. Those conversations can spotlight names, but preseason usage offers more useful clues than early depth-chart predictions.

Watch which quarterbacks receive work with the first offense, which receivers are trusted on key downs, and whether runners are asked to contribute in passing situations as well as on carries. Coaches may not announce every decision immediately after a preseason game, so Week 3 should be viewed as a final piece of evaluation rather than a guaranteed answer.

The clearest conclusion entering the weekend is simple: teams with settled starters can protect key players and refine details, while teams with open jobs must use their final preseason opportunities carefully. For players competing for a place, every assignment remains part of the roster decision.