The preseason is coming to a close and the final roster cuts will be made next week. The Steelers have filled most of their starting spots and even some reserve players have already established themselves as roster candidates. Even though the regular season is so close, there are some position groups whose battle is still raging.

While these battles aren’t always about starting spots, every player in this squad is certainly in the running for a place at the start of the season. With one final game to prove yourself, it’s important to make the most of your chances. Here are the five typical squad battles that are still raging ahead of the final preseason game.

The least impactful battle still comes in the tight end room. I almost left this battle off the list since there’s no guarantee the team will have four tight ends and the top three names are set in stone at this point. However, with the chances of Jack Colletto making the roster as a traditional fullback now slim, Connor Heyward will play as a hybrid fullback and tight end, making a fourth in an Arthur Smith offense a good bet.

That leaves the final spot reserved for Rodney Williams or MyCole Pruitt. Williams is a converted wide receiver with some offensive potential, but has been primarily a special teams player (which is good for a fourth-string tight end). Pruitt doesn’t have the special teams skills, but is a good blocker and a favorite of Smith, with whom he played in both Atlanta and Tennessee.

Right now, Pruitt has the edge, having outperformed Williams so far due to his better health. The battle isn’t over, but offensive ability likely won’t be the deciding factor. However, if Williams can make a splash on special teams, he could sneak back onto the roster. If not, the practice squad seems like a safe bet.

Much like tight end, the battle for receivers doesn’t have much to do with the top of the order. George Pickens was always the starter, and it became clear early on that Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin had the second and slot spots secured, respectively. Roman Wilson will be included in the rotation at some point despite his injury, leaving the fifth spot completely open.

The team did its due diligence and signed a number of middling names on cheap terms. Quez Watkins seemed to be the early favorite, while Scotty Miller was also in the running due to his experience. Dez Fitzpatrick was a holdover from the practice squad and Marquez Callaway had success in the league in the past. Any of these names would not have been surprising in gaining traction.

Technically, Callaway is the only option out of the running right now, as he was released. Watkins has also done little to earn a spot, meaning this battle will be between Miller and Fitzpatrick. Miller is faster and could be the bigger threat on offense, but Fitzpatrick has the ever-important skills on special teams. I’m giving him the edge right now, but heading into the final preseason game, this is still an open competition.

The Steelers once again have one of the strongest edge players in the NFL right now. Their starters are two great players. TJ Watt is elite and arguably the best defender in the league. Alex Highsmith is a great addition with his variety of pass rush moves. The team also has Nick Herbig as a third option and he has been electric in limited use.

On paper, the fourth spot doesn’t seem that important, but the Steelers used a strong rotation of edge rushers last year with great success. It briefly looked like the team would have the same group of four as last year until Markus Golden decided to abruptly retire. Now the battle comes down to Kyron Johnson and Jeremiah Moon.

Johnson is the better athlete with experience on special teams. However, Moon has incredible size and better fits the typical edge profile of a Pittsburgh pass rusher. Johnson was very fired up and looked good in the second preseason game, so he could move up the rankings. This final game should have a big impact on who makes the team.

What has become a big topic now: The Steelers’ tackle room along the offensive line may not be as strong as many hoped. Despite spending two consecutive first-round picks on the position, that room enters the season with some serious concerns and there’s a chance a very familiar face could make the surprise start.

The hope was that Broderick Jones would move back to his usual spot at left tackle, while rookie Troy Fautanu would man the right side. Fautanu has reportedly already earned a spot in the starting lineup, but has been unable to play most of the preseason due to injuries. Jones is a whole different problem, as his play has been poor.

His performance in Week 1 was nothing special, but he looked vulnerable against the Bills. At this point, it looks like everyone’s favorite left tackle Dan Moore will begin the season as the starter again. This group looks like a mess right now, and Jones is now playing for his chance to be in the starting lineup.

The most important battle on this list has to be the slot. Since Mike Hilton left, the Steelers have failed to fill the position properly. Cameron Sutton was good as a backup, but there have been a lot of other players trying to fill the void with mediocre results over the last few seasons.

This year is no different, as the team brought Sutton back despite his suspension and added the usual mix of veteran minimum contracts and an undrafted free agent. Beanie Bishop, despite going undrafted, had some potential coming out of West Virginia and was ranked early as a starter.

Grayland Arnold was also pushing hard before his injury. Now Thomas Graham has also emerged, trying to make a last-minute bid for a starting spot. However, Bishop is healthy this week and should play against the Lions. If he struggles, Graham could be hot on his heels and secure the starting spot to start the season.