Three Unanswered Questions Going into NFL Preseason’s Final Week

Exhibitions soon go extinct again until next August, with teams eyeing one last tuneup this week before the regular season kicks off on Sept. 5.

While some clubs bring few, if any, burning questions to the preseason finale, others face notable issues. It likely won’t come as a surprise that many of those revolve around the quarterback position.

Here’s a look at three unanswered questions under center as the regular season nears:

Who Will Start at Quarterback for Pittsburgh Steelers?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Little about the Pittsburgh offense has looked encouraging through a pair of preseason games, the latest of which was a 9-3 loss to Buffalo on Saturday.

It’s a small sample size, but the Steelers’ first-team offense has produced zero points and seven first downs over eight series this month. Now starting center Nick Herbig (rotator cuff) is out for months, and purported RB1 Jaylen Warren (hamstring) might not be ready for Week 1 at Atlanta.

Offseason acquisitions Russell Wilson and Justin Fields both have had opportunities at QB while adjusting to new plays and personnel. While Wilson said Saturday the calf injury that hampered him to start training camp wasn’t an issue against the Bills, he looked tentative to throw deep or extend plays with his legs and was sacked three times.

Fields, meanwhile, passed for 92 yards and rushed for 42 more in five series with the second team as he rebounded from shaky exchanges under center in the preseason opener.

Fields remains inconsistent overall, but his youth and athleticism are undeniable assets. Still just 25, he remains a first-round talent who is entering a more stable coaching situation than the one he left in Chicago. If healthy, Wilson provides a steady option, but his best years appear to be behind him.

How Long Will Gardner Minshew Start in Las Vegas?

Las Vegas coach Antonio Pierce initially thought the Raiders’ most recent preseason game against Dallas would decide whether incumbent Aidan O’Connell kept the QB job or yielded to spunky veteran Gardner Minshew II.

Pierce stuck to his guns and named Minshew the starter on Monday, but why the rush? Neither signal-caller distinguished himself against the Cowboys, and the Raiders have one more exhibition when they host the San Francisco 49ers on Friday.

Minshew got the starting nod against the Cowboys but completed less than 50 percent of his passes and finished with 95 yards through the air. O’Connell was 14-for-20 for 96 yards and a touchdown. His final throw of the night, however, was intercepted and returned for a score.

Pierce this week admitted, “I don’t think anything is a finished product” when it comes to the offense.

“Based off where we want to go in the first quarter of the season,” he added, “we feel like Gardner gives us our best opportunity.”

Look for O’Connell to get another chance, possibly sooner than one might expect.

Should the San Francisco 49ers be Concerned?

Can we answer that question with another: Could you come back to this one on Friday night?

San Francisco figures to give more substantial snaps to its starters then, as it takes on its one-time Bay Area brethren. That may be why some Niners backers aren’t nervously jabbing at the panic button despite some unease going against the visiting New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

As a national broadcast reminded viewers of his status at “Mr. Irrelevant,” San Francisco QB Brock Purdy largely looked the part in 12 snaps covering three series. He finished 2-for-6 for 11 yards, guided the offense to just one first down, faced steady pressure and was nearly intercepted.

Of course, coach Kyle Shanahan sat numerous other offensive starters due to rest or injury, while versatile receiver Brandon Aiyuk and left tackle Trent Williams are still out due to unresolved contract issues.

The Niners appear primed to rebound from an overtime loss in the Super Bowl, but clicking from the get-go could be a challenge without at least a speck of preseason momentum.