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NFL·PREVIEW·August 29, 2026 11:44 AM ET

NFL teams split on starter workloads for preseason Week 3

Herbert's first unit was allotted six to nine plays

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 291 min read
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What happened: Buffalo ruled out Josh Allen and assigned quarterback duties to Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele against Pittsburgh. Cleveland sat Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, leaving Dillon Gabriel and Taylen Green to face New England. Justin Herbert started for the Chargers, while Khalil Mack and Derwin James Jr. sat against the Rams.

Why it matters: San Francisco prioritized rest before its shortened turnaround for the 2026 regular-season opener in Australia. The Rams used the finale to evaluate Ty Simpson while considering how to divide their remaining quarterback work.

What to watch: Ashton Jeanty's availability remained the key decision for Las Vegas after he left practice early. Pittsburgh also had yet to settle its full starter workload.

Sources

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