FOXBORO — Julian Edelman’s torn ACL localized the annual debate: What’s the merit of these preseason games, or at least the purpose of playing as many as four of them?

Don’t tell that to three or four dozen Patriots tonight as they’re vying for the final jobs on the Week 1 roster, or at least getting their last chance to create good enough game tape to draw scouts’ interests from the other 31 organizations. Or worst of all, this could be the last time some of them ever wear a uniform, as roster cuts loom over the next 48 hours.

With Tom Brady and the rest of the veterans set to sit this one out, the Patriots — or at least a skeleton version of them — and Giants will close down the preseason at Gillette Stadium. It has little bearing on the reigning champion’s banner-raising, regular-season opener next Thursday against the Chiefs, but this game tonight means the world to so many.

So here are five things to watch in the preseason finale as the remaining jobs are up for grabs.

1 Final battles

The last true head-to-head battle was also the most obvious duel at the start of training camp. Veteran James O’Shaughnessy and undrafted rookie Jacob Hollister appear to be vying for the third tight end job. O’Shaughnessy is a far superior blocker with some value as a pass catcher while Hollister is a pure receiving tight end with competitive blocking attributes. If O’Shaughnessy doesn’t play tonight, he’s won the job. Otherwise, it’s obviously still close. And if that’s the case, would the Patriots carry both players considering they might require an extra pass catcher in Edelman’s absence? The Pats can afford to make room elsewhere on the depth chart by manufacturing a spot on injured reserve or gambling on a player at another position passing through waivers, so maybe they’d keep four tight ends. On the flip side, if neither O’Shaughnessy nor Hollister is impressive enough, maybe both could be gone. If both see the field tonight, this one’s a coin flip.

2. Stolen goods

Here’s where it gets complicated. There might be as many as 12 players who have a chance to win the final five jobs on the first 53-man roster. Among that group, the Patriots have to figure out whether or not their promising group of youngsters can pass through waivers and stay with the program on the practice squad, but that may not be possible if they have a huge night tonight. Along with Hollister, keep an eye on running back D.J. Foster, receivers Austin Carr and Devin Lucien, linebacker Trevor Bates and cornerbacks D.J. Killings and Kenny Moore. Foster and Bates could probably contribute to the Patriots in some capacity right away, but the rest of the group needs time to develop behind the talented depth chart. But again there’s a strategic element at play. For instance, if the Patriots believe left tackle Nate Solder will be healthy enough to play against the Chiefs, they won’t need to carry four tackles and could cut LaAdrian Waddle for, say, a receiver like Carr if they’re concerned about losing him through waivers. (By the way, this was written with the assumption that undrafted rookie defensive tackle Adam Butler and linebacker Harvey Langi have secured their jobs on the initial 53.)

3. Sit tight

Running back Brandon Bolden and cornerback Cyrus Jones appear to be safe, while linebacker Jonathan Freeny and safety Jordan Richards could very well be on the wrong side of the cut line. Will Bill Belichick tip his hand with the veterans, though? If Bolden gets tonight off, count on him keeping his job. If Freeny and Richards play deep into the second half, uh oh. Jones needs the playing time regardless, so he’ll play. There are two other veterans worth mentioning. Geneo Grissom would theoretically be safe if it weren’t for the injury that has derailed his preseason. Can the Patriots afford to keep him if he can’t play in Week 1, considering special teamers like Matthew Slater, Nate Ebner and Brandon King have been banged up? If Grissom is out tonight for injury reasons, it’s worth wondering if he’ll be temporarily released until he is healthy enough to return in the regular season. Also, there’s been some speculation over the status of linebacker David Harris, but he landed $1.25 million in guaranteed money, so consider him safe.

4. Room for three

There’s been some speculation over Jacoby Brissett’s viability as a third quarterback on the 53-man roster. The feeling here is that Brissett is safe because the Patriots have been concerned about the future of the position if anything ever happens to Tom Brady — hence, a major part of the reason they held onto Jimmy Garoppolo — and because they spent a third-round pick on a guy they liked very much a year ago. Brissett, who has been prepped to start tonight, has shown improvements this summer, though there are clearly still flaws in his game with the high, troublesome throws. It’s far too early to know whether or not he can be a franchise quarterback, but there are likable qualities. Then again, if Belichick has doubts over Brissett’s ceiling, and the Pats need a spot due to their rash of special teams injuries, maybe the unexpected will indeed occur and they’d part ways. The Patriots would have to expect Brissett won’t clear waivers, so such a decision would likely spell the end of his tenure here. Again, a release doesn’t seem like the probable outcome this weekend from this viewpoint, but the idea has gained enough traction that it’s worth wondering if this is Brissett’s last stand.

5. Stay in line

The Patriots may very well enter the season with the exact same group of offensive linemen as the 2016 team, which is fine even if it wasn’t the initial plan. Tackle Tony Garcia, a third-round pick, didn’t practice enough in camp to graduate from the third string before suffering an injury that wiped out his preseason, so the obvious question is whether or not he’ll end up on injured reserve. So will the Pats keep both Fleming and Waddle? Again, that depends on Solder’s health, though a source said the opener is a possibility for the starting left tackle. As for the interior group, Joe Thuney, David Andrews and Shaq Mason had strong summers and backup Ted Karras is right there with them. But Cole Croston, Jamil Douglas, James Ferentz and Jason King didn’t do enough to snag a spot on the 53. Ferentz has been the best of the group, but they can stash any of those guys on the practice squad and call them up in a pinch if necessary.