Following last week’s loss at Houston, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales informed media that he did not intend to play starters in the team’s preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Generally speaking, the final preseason game is usually reserved for guys that are on the bubble of making the 53-man roster. With the preseason cut down to three games, it’s tough to apply that reasoning to every team. For instance, wide receiver Jalen Coker – who many see as a lock – played on Thursday night. However, that could be due to the fact that he missed the Houston game due to illness and Canales wanted to get him some live game snaps.
Nevertheless, quarterback Jack Plummer started the game and completed 7 of 14 passes, including a touchdown and an interception before UFL MVP Bryce Perkins took over in the second half. Rookie safety Lathan Ransom started the second quarter off by intercepting Mason Rudolph but the Panthers couldn’t capitalize after making it all the way to the Pittsburgh 6-yard line. Plummer was intercepted in the end zone by James Pierre. The Steelers went 80 yards in eight plays to take a 7-3 lead off a 24-yard touchdown from Skylar Thompson to Lance McCutcheon. The next possession, Plummer connected with tight end James Mitchell for a 7-yard touchdown and Ryan Fitzgerald hit a 43-yard field goal for Carolina’s only points of the night. The Panthers held a 10-7 lead with less than 20 seconds left. A 53-yard deep ball from Thompson to Scotty Miller set up a 38-yard field goal by Ben Saul and the Steelers tied the game at 10 heading into the locker room.
Perkins entered the game at quarterback for Carolina to start the second half and led a promising drive before taking back-to-back sacks. Perkins fumbled twice on the second sack and the second one was recovered by Pittsburgh’s Mark Robinson at Carolina’s 40-yard line. The Steelers took advantage of the turnover as Saul’s made the second of his four field goals to give his team a 13-10 lead. It was Pittsburgh the rest of the way with Saul connecting on 49- and 28-yard field goals to make the final score 19-10. Perkins finished 10-of-11 for 71 yards while taking three sacks.
With the preseason concluded, the Panthers have until Tuesday to get to a final roster count of 53.
