5 players to watch in Friday's preseason games

The preseason is reaching its peak, with the majority of teams' starters set to see their most significant action since the close of the 2015 season.

Quarterbacks, as always, remain the big draw in Friday's games.

Robert Griffin III and Jimmy Garoppolo will look to continue their solid play from the preseason's second week, Tom Brady should make his debut after a bizarre scissor slip ruled him out last week, and the San Francisco 49ers hope to gain clarity with their quarterback situation.

Here are five players to watch during Friday's games:

Colin Kaepernick, 49ers

Arm fatigue has kept Kaepernick sidelined in the preseason thus far, but it seems we'll finally get to see him and Blaine Gabbert in the same game on Friday against the Packers. Neither will excite the fan base upon winning the job, but the 49ers have decided to roll with these quarterbacks, for better or worse. Gabbert has done little to inspire confidence during the first few games of the preseason, showing the type of inaccuracy and poor decision-making that makes him an awkward fit in head coach Chip Kelly's offense. The Kaepernick-Kelly combination has seemed more compatible, and the quarterback will get his first shot at proving it Friday.

Corey Coleman and Josh Gordon, Browns

The Browns may not win many games in 2016, but their passing attack will be anything but boring. Griffin and converted quarterback Terrelle Pryor have already shown instant chemistry, and with Coleman and the recently reinstated Gordon set to see their first preseason action, the offense could produce fireworks. That's not to say it won't be without problems; Griffin is still wildly inconsistent, Pryor remains a project, Coleman is a rookie, and Gordon will be rusty after a whole season on the sidelines. But seeing Cleveland's full offense together for the first time will definitely be worth watching, and it's been a long time since that was the case.

Nick Fairley, Saints

The Saints are desperately in need of playmakers on the defensive front, especially after first-rounder Sheldon Rankins broke his fibula. Fairley will likely be asked to fill that void, and it's a chance for the defensive tackle to reach his potential. Fairley flashed Pro Bowl-type ability during his four seasons with Detroit, but failed to take the next step in his development with St. Louis in 2015. During last week's preseason game against the Houston Texans, Fairley teased the kind of disruptive production the Saints hoped for when they signed him this offseason, recording four tackles - one for a loss - and one sack in just 19 snaps.

Trey Flowers, Patriots

Flowers played in just one game during his rookie season due to a shoulder injury, but the defensive end could be asked to step up early in 2016. Jabaal Sheard and Rob Ninkovich are both struggling with injuries, meaning Flowers should see significant action in the first few weeks of the regular season. He's already recorded 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble in the preseason, and has been one of the standout players in training camp. He could be another under-the-radar Patriots defensive lineman that bursts onto the scene.