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NFL Nation reporters assess the top storylines to watch for every team on Friday.NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West AFC East | AFC North| AFC South | AFC WestNFC EASTDallas CowboysTony Romos preseason likely came to an end on Thursday, after just three snaps, because of a back injury that he suffered against the Seahawks. Romo was injured when he was hit by Seattle defensive end Cliff Avril while scrambling up the middle and had his back jammed into the turf. He attempted to return to the game after three snaps, but the coaches kept him on the sideline and decided to hold him for the rest of the night. The Cowboys regulars have not played in a preseason finale in years. Romos 13 snaps against Miami and three against Seattle would be the fewest snaps he has played in a preseason in his career. His absence allowed the Cowboys to get rookie Dak Prescott more work with the starters, and Prescott threw a first-quarter touchdown pass to Jason Witten. -- Todd ArcherNew York GiantsWide receiver?Victor Cruz says hes ready. The Giants and coach Ben McAdoo are very optimistic that hell play in a game for the first time in 22 months. Cruz is set to appear in a game for the first time since Oct. 12, 2014, when the Giants play the Jets on Saturday in preseason action. All Cruz has to do is make it through Friday, when the Giants have a launch day in which?they run through a short practice at 80 percent. -- Jordan RaananPhiladelphia EaglesNew Eagles receiver Dorial Green-Beckham has been getting some looks with the first team and should see a little more action Saturday against the Colts than he did last week in Pittsburgh, when?he played just a handful of snaps days after being traded from Tennessee. Hes looking good. Again, the terminology is a little bit different. Were not moving him around, so hes lining up in one spot, one position, which is good for him right now, coach Doug Pederson said. But hes playing fast, and thats what we ask him to do, and hes being decisive with his routes. -- Tim McManusWashington RedskinsThe Redskins starters will play at least a half on Friday against Buffalo, but with the first round of cuts looming next week, its a good chance for some backups to perhaps clinch jobs or make themselves harder to cut. Some unknowns to watch include defensive end Anthony Lanier, an undrafted rookie who has impressed the coaches. Among the veterans who still have something to prove: linebacker Perry Riley Jr. Its possible hell need to be a starter if he wants to remain on the roster, considering hell count $5 million against the cap this year, a hefty sum if hes a backup. -- John KeimNFC NORTHChicago BearsBears tailback Jeremy Langford expects to play Saturday against the Chiefs, despite his missing time recently because of a foot injury. The Bears might be cautious, but Langford had full participation in practice Thursday, which means the medical staff cleared him for contact. Tight end Zach Miller and receiver Eddie Royal, however,?still wore red no contact jerseys on the practice field, as both remain in the NFLs concussion protocol. Their status for the Kansas City game is unknown. The Bears will hold a closed walkthrough Friday and then determine who exactly will be active for the all-important third exhibition game of the summer. -- Jeff DickersonDetroit LionsAs the Lions get ready to travel to Baltimore for preseason game No. 3, special teams is going to be a huge focus. Why? Lions coach Jim Caldwell called special teams prowess huge when determining the final spots on the teams 53-man roster. With potential logjams at receiver, at defensive tackle and in the defensive backfield, players can make a real impact by making plays on kick or punt teams. A player to watch here is rookie running back Dwayne Washington, who has received a long look on multiple special teams over the past two weeks. Hes putting himself in position for a roster spot, and a good showing Saturday could clinch one. -- Michael RothsteinGreen Bay PackersPackers general manager?Ted Thompson, who has a long history of keeping undrafted free agents, appears to have assembled another quality class. Just dont ask him about them. Thompson refused to discuss the group during his weekly news conference: Theyre undrafted free agents. Weve got more important things to talk about. Hes likely trying to find a way to protect some players whom the team will cut and try to bring back to the practice squad. Since Thompson wont talk about them, here are several to keep an eye on in Fridays preseason game at San Francisco: cornerbacks Makinton Dorleant and Josh Hawkins, safeties Kentrell Brice and Marwin Evans, defensive tackles Tyler Kuder and Brian Price,?and punter Peter Mortell. -- Rob DemovskyMinnesota VikingsThe Vikings will get their first work at U.S. Bank Stadium on Friday, when they shift practice to the stadium before Sundays preseason game against the Chargers. In addition to the teams normal practice schedule, coach Mike Zimmer listed some simple, practical benefits to the session in downtown Minneapolis. What I wanted to do was take them down, show them where they park, how they get to the locker room, how they come out of the tunnel, Zimmer said. The Vikings will also open the stadiums retractable doors to see if they have any effect on how the stadium plays when outside air comes in from the west side of the stadium. -- Ben GoesslingNFC SOUTHAtlanta FalconsInjuries mounted up for the Falcons on Thursday night, with Julio Jones (ankle), Keanu Neal (knee), Adrian Clayborn (shoulder), Justin Hardy (ankle), and Brandon Wilds (knee) all being knocked out of the game against the Dolphins. Falcons coach Dan Quinn sounded optimistic about Jones and Neal, the most important players who were injured. The good thing is the Falcons can rest the regulars in next weeks final preseason game in preparation for the regular season. -- Vaughn McClureCarolina PanthersThe starters will play into the third quarter of Fridays?preseason game against New England, but coach Ron Rivera agrees with Patriots coach Bill Belichick that this isnt really a dress rehearsal for the regular-season opener. Rivera said the preparation for this game and the Sept. 8 opener at Denver are a world apart. The Panthers put in only a partial game plan for the Patriots. They will begin work on their game plan for Denver on Sunday, even though they have a preseason game left against Pittsburgh. -- David NewtonNew Orleans SaintsWhen asked what he wants to see Friday in his teams third preseason game against the Steelers, coach Sean Paytons first response was, I want to see our first offense be better. The offense obviously isnt the Saints No. 1 concern heading into the season, as it should still be dynamic once Drew Brees, receivers Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead, and left tackle Terron Armstead, among others,?are all on the field together. But the Saints are disappointed with how sluggish the offense has been so far in this preseason -- especially in the run game. The offensive line needs to be better, everyone needs to cut down on turnovers, and the team would like a nice, clean dress rehearsal with some rhythm before the starters shut it down until Week 1. -- Mike TriplettTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Bucs will take on the Browns on Friday, with starters expected to play three quarters. Rookie cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III could be seeing his first action with the starters on the outside after two interceptions last week. Meanwhile, quarterback Jameis Winston is hoping to get off to a much faster start and not commit costly mistakes. In our first two games, I had a turnover, Winston said. You cant have turnovers ... thats on me ... so I have to own that and bounce back and start fast. Winston?added: Im supposed to be the leader of this team, so Ive got to start fast. It starts with me. -- Jenna LaineNFC WESTArizona CardinalsDespite Cardinals coach Bruce Arians saying wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald wouldnt practice Thursday to help make sure his sprained MCL calms down totally, the nine-time Pro Bowler strapped on his pads and went through individual drills but sat out 11-on-11 drills. Fitzgeralds status for Sundays preseason game against Houston is still uncertain. When asked if Fitzgerald will miss the game, Arians said, Well see. Fitzgeralds fellow receiver, John Brown, left practice alongside a trainer. Brown, who suffered a concussion during one of Arizonas first practices in late July, missed Wednesdays practice because of a headache. -- Josh WeinfussLos Angeles RamsStar defensive end Robert Quinn is getting set to play in his first preseason game, and the Rams are excited. Quinn was limited to only eight games in 2015 and ultimately underwent back surgery. When right, he is one of the games best at getting to the quarterback, a guy who can take a lot of the pressure off defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who faced a lot more double teams when Quinn was out. Now the Rams believe Quinn?is right. Said defensive coordinator Gregg Williams: He does things that you cant coach. He has some of the fastest-twitch pass-rushing Ive ever seen. -- Alden GonzalezSan Francisco 49ersCoach Chip Kelly is offering no estimates on how much the starters will play Friday against the Packers. Instead of time, Kelly prefers to go based on snaps. Its safe to assume quarterback?Colin Kaepernick will