NFL Preseason Week 4: Biggest Questions Still to Be Answered Across the League

The NFL's exhibition finale is a time for players on the bubble to win a roster spot, rookies to win starting jobs and, of course, veterans to get the week to rest.

The Jarryd Haynes and Ty Montgomerys of the world will be given the chance to shine among their peers and answer some of the biggest questions heading into Thursday night's slate of preseason action. 

Kirk Cousins was recently named the Washington Redskins' starting quarterback—so what does that mean for Robert Griffin III?

Will Terrelle Pryor stick with the Cleveland Browns as a wide receiver? 

What about the crowded backfields in Atlanta and Detroit?

There are NFL jobs to be won and lost in this fourth and final installment before the regular season. We'll point out the storylines and position battles worth paying attention to on Thursday night in NFL preseason Week 4. 

Detroit's Backfield

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Who will step up as the go-to back in Detroit alongside Joique Bell?

Game to Watch: Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions, 7:30 p.m. ET

It's not clear how much action, if any, incumbent starter Joique Bell will see on Thursday night, but his fellow running backs should get their fair share of looks.

Rookies Ameer Abdullah and Zach Zenner are battling for playing time in the Lions backfield with third-year man Theo Riddick. 

Abdullah's been all the hype in Detroit this preseason, yet Bell remains the No. 1 tailback on the team's depth chart.

Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reported Bell took reps with the first-unit offense on Monday after being activated off the physically unable to perform list. 

So it seems to be Bell's job to lose. Behind him, though, is anyone's guess. 

Zenner's made his case so far by rushing for an NFL-best 162 yards in three exhibition games. The undrafted rookie out of South Dakota State even took snaps with the Lions' first-team offense last week. 

Yet, Detroit spent a second-round pick on Abdullah, and it expects him to share the load with Bell in the backfield this season. 

The Lions' final preseason game could be an audition for Zenner to get meaningful carries come next week. 

Buffalo's Offense Around Tyrod Taylor

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Tyrod Taylor has won the starting QB job, but what about the offense around him?

Game to Watch: Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions, 7:30 p.m. ET

On the other side of the ball against Detroit, there's the interesting story of Tyrod Taylor and what he brings to the Buffalo offense. 

The former Virginia Tech star, who spent the last four years as a backup in Baltimore, was announced as the Bills' starting quarterback for 2015 earlier this week.  

Now, Taylor will probably only play a series or two at most on Thursday night, if at all since Matt Simms is starting, but it'll be interesting to see how the offense around him responds to the decision—something we could see in this final preseason game. 

There's already some accomplished playmakers in Buffalo—namely LeSean McCoy, Sammy Watkins, Charles Clay, Robert Woods and Percy Harvin—but we likely won't see them play against the Lions.

With McCoy (hamstring) and rookie Karlos Williams (undisclosed operation) sidelined for much of the preseason and the recent release of veteran back Fred Jackson, the Bills will need someone to step up in the backfield if their injuries bleed into Week 1. 

Enter journeymen Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown, who both should see the majority of carries on Thursday night. 

Although there were rumors of Brown's departure earlier in camp, the fourth-year back still has something to prove whether he stays in Buffalo or not.

Dixon is third on the Bills RB depth chart, but the 27-year-old saw a career-high 107 carries in 2014 and could see the field right away if the injuries to McCoy and Williams persist. 

Terrelle Pryor as a Wide Receiver

Associated Press

Terrelle Pryor will finally get on the field Thursday as he looks to prove himself as a wide receiver.

Game to Watch: Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears, 8 p.m. ET

The Terrelle Pryor-as-a-wide receiver experiment in Cleveland will finally come to fruition on Thursday night when the Browns take on the Bears. 

Due to a hamstring injury, Pryor has not seen the field in a preseason game yet this summer. But that could all be forgotten if the former quarterback puts on a show in a Browns uniform. 

Pryor is expected to play in the exhibition finale, per Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com, and he'll likely get a large number of snaps to earn his spot on the 53-man roster. 

If Pryor lives up to the early hype, he could bring an athletic, playmaking option to a Browns offense desperate to fill the void left by the suspended Josh Gordon. 

At 6'4", 223 pounds and sub-4.4 speed, Pryor has the athleticism the wide receiver position requires. 

Jason Garcia of FOX Sports notes the Browns current receiving corps needs all the help it can get.

"

...the Browns' receiving depth chart isn't quite setting the world on fire. Bowe and Brian Hartline are nothing more than solid possession guys, and Andrew Hawkins is 5-foot-7 but has the shiftiness to thrive in the slot. Outside of the top three, Travis Benjamin is best served as a returner, Taylor Gabriel is basically Hawkins' twin with not as much skill, Marlon Moore is a special teamer and fourth-round pick Vince Mayle and his case of the dropsies would probably benefit from a year on the practice squad. Surely, Ray Farmer and Mike Pettine aren't playing fantasy football, but with a depth chart this bereft of explosive ability, why not take a flier on Pryor?

"

If the comparisons to Calvin Johnson are accurate, as Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden made per the News-Herald, then Pryor could be a star just waiting to get his shot at a new position. 

Eagles' Third-String QB Battle

Associated Press

Tim Tebow and Matt Barkley are battling it out for the Eagles' third quarterback job.

Game to Watch: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets, 7 p.m. ET

Head coach Chip Kelly took a flier on quarterback Tim Tebow this offseason in hopes of getting a competitive edge in any way. 

Tebow and Matt Barkley are battling it out for the third QB job in Philadelphia, and the final test will come Thursday night against the Jets. 

Both play-callers will likely get a half each to show what they've got as Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez sit out the final preseason contest. 

Barkley has been the better passer in the Eagles offense this summer going 23-of-43 for 306 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in three exhibition games. On the other hand, Tebow is 10-of-19 for 97 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions to go along with 50 rushing yards on 10 carries. 

Kelly has also opted to try Tebow out as a two-point conversion specialist—a spot where his 6'3", 243-pound frame could come in handy. 

In last week's preseason matchup with the Packers, Tebow failed twice as the quarterback on both of his two-point attempts, though.

Nonetheless, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported that Tebow has "a very good chance" to make the Eagles final roster ahead of Thursday's action. 

The better performance against the Jets could cost either Barkley or Tebow a spot on Philadelphia's final 53. 

Reggie Wayne's Role in New England

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Reggie Wayne might need another preseason game to get acclimated in New England.

Game to Watch: New York Giants at New England Patriots, 7:30 p.m. ET

The Patriots signed free-agent receiver Reggie Wayne to a one-year contract on Aug. 24 in hopes that he still has some gas left in his 14-year career. 

The longtime Indianapolis Colt played 20 snaps but was held without a catch in his first preseason action in Week 3. He also dropped the lone target he saw from Tom Brady. 

If last week's performance was any indication, Wayne still has some rust after missing out on practice and preseason time almost all summer. 

Expect to see Wayne, who turns 37 in November, play a series or two Thursday night as he still needs to get acclimated with New England's playbook. 

Right now, Wayne sits behind Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Brandon LaFell and Aaron Dobson on the Pats depth chart. 

Yet, Edelman (ankle) and LaFell (foot) have both battled injuries this preseason—obstacles that pushed Wayne's signing. 

In a week where most veterans sit out, Wayne could see his fair share of snaps as he tries to prove his worth as a receiver for the defending champions. 

Jarryd Hayne Making the Final 53

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Jarryd Hayne could benefit from another big game in a Niners uniform.

Game to Watch: San Diego Chargers at San Francisco 49ers, 10 p.m. ET

Jarryd Hayne has been one of the more entertaining stories of the NFL's preseason. 

The former rugby star has made plays both as a running back and a return man—he's racked up 117 rushing yards on 13 carries and added a few eyebrow-raising punt returns. 

Yet, 49ers coach Jim Tomsula shut down an Australian media report that Hayne has already made the final 53-man roster, per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Niners currently have a plethora of talent at running back that could block Hayne making the team. Carlos Hyde and Reggie Bush are the locks while veteran Kendall Hunter and rookie Mike Davis are probably better options as well.

Hayne's best shot to earn a job in San Francisco seems to be as a returner, but his production as a tailback can't be ignored—he's averaged nine yards per carry. 

Thursday night's preseason finale should feature Hayne as a lead back on the Niners offense with the starters sitting. If he produces like he's done all summer, a roster spot is his to lose.  

Browns' Starting RB

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The Browns are hoping to get some clarity in their current running back-by-committee.

Game to Watch: Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears, 8 p.m. ET

The Browns also have uncertainty right now at another key offensive position: running back. 

No one among Terrance West, Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson has emerged as the starter in the Cleveland backfield. 

Johnson is expected to get the most touches out of any of them—but he must stay healthy. The rookie from Miami (FL) spent most of the preseason on the shelf with a hamstring injury and recently suffered a concussion in last week's preseason game. 

Crowell and West are the holdovers from last season, but neither has impressed so far this summer. 

West, who started the Browns' second exhibition contest, has just 78 rushing yards on 22 carries through three preseason games. 

Crowell may be the favorite right now by default. He's stayed healthy despite unimpressive numbers—47 yards on 11 rushes. 

Then there's the recent speculation of Cleveland's interest in adding free-agent back Ray Rice to the fold, as reported by Don Banks of SI.com. 

It'll be interesting to see how many plays each tailback gets in Thursday night's preseason finale as the Browns look to find some clarity in the position. 

With the No. 1 RB job wide open, we should see Crowell and West get their share of touches as Johnson presumably sits with his concussion. 

Green Bay's Receiving Corps

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With Jordy Nelson out for the year and Randall Cobb's recent injury scare, the Packers need some receivers to step up this week.

Game to Watch: New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers, 7 p.m. ET

Losing Jordy Nelson for the season was a big enough blow for Packers fans everywhere. Then Randall Cobb went down a week later with a shoulder injury. 

Fortunately, Cobb says he'll be healthy enough to play Week 1 of the regular season against the Chicago Bears—but that still leaves just one experienced, top receiver for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. 

And if Cobb gets hurt again, who will be the lead pass-catcher in Green Bay? 

Right now, the No. 2 receiver job is Davante Adams' to lose. Behind him, though, are two new faces—Jeff Janis and Ty Montgomery—that still bring uncertainty. 

Janis, who caught two passes all of last season as a rookie, has gotten more snaps than Montgomery thus far in the preseason—102 to 98. 

Still, Montgomery, a third-round rookie out of Stanford, started the Packers' last preseason game against the Eagles as the third wide receiver and has the "upper hand" on winning the job over Janis, according to Rob Reischel of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Both receivers should see some playing time in Thursday night's preseason finale against the Saints as targets are there for the taking in a now-depleted Packers receiving corps. 

Panthers Uncertainty at WR

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Devin Funchess will presumably take the spot of the injured Kelvin Benjamin—if he can stay healthy.

Game to Watch: Carolina Panthers at Pittsburgh Steelers, 7:30 p.m. ET

Cam Newton just can't catch a break. 

The Panthers quarterback looks to begin his second consecutive season with limited options at receiver after Kelvin Benjamin's season-ending torn ACL in August. 

Thursday night will be final tuneup for the other Carolina wideouts to prove they can be viable pass-catchers this season. 

As Newton sits, you bet he'll be watching to see who emerges in Benjamin's absence. 

Rookie Devin Funchess is expected to play in the preseason finale after battling a hamstring injury throughout the preseason. The Michigan product is projected to start opposite the veteran Jerricho Cotchery at receiver.

After them, though, the targets are up for grabs.

Ted Ginn currently sits as the third option—but that's no team's ideal scenario.

Corey Brown has shown promise, though he's dropped two touchdown passes in the past two exhibition games. 

The Panthers also acquired Kevin Norwood from the Seahawks on Aug. 31 to add to the competition in the receiving corps. 

Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer reported Carolina is still be looking to add another receiver off waivers this week if it doesn't find any answers soon in its current group. 

We'll see who plays well Thursday as the Panthers desperately try to find talent to back up Newton. 

RGIII's Future as a Redskin

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This time next week, we could see RGIII as the quarterback on another team.

Game to Watch: Jacksonville Jaguars at Washington Redskins, 7:30 p.m. ET

Once head coach Jay Gruden announced Kirk Cousins as the Redskins starting quarterback for 2015 earlier this week, the focus quickly turned to Robert Griffin III. 

What happens to RGIII? Released? Second or third string? Traded? 

Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini of ESPN.com reported that the Redskins front office wants to part ways with RGIII but are being shown resistance from ownership. 

A Washington Post report states Daniel Snyder isn't blocking a trade at all, though. 

Then, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported there have been no trade talks surrounding the quarterback.

If the Redskins choose to release Griffin, he could be owed over $16 million for his fifth-year option if he is injured—which isn't exactly clear right now. 

Griffin will see a neurologist either Thursday or Friday following his concussion in Week 2 of the preseason, according to John Keim of ESPN.com. 

If he passes the test, Washington could release him—opening the door for another team to pick him up. 

So what does this all mean for Thursday night's Skins-Jags game?

It begins the era of Kirk Cousins as the starting QB in Washington and allows backup Colt McCoy to essentially take the reins from Griffin as the No. 2 with a solid exhibition performance. 

For now, we have to just wait and see what the Redskins choose to do.