The Pittsburgh Steelers are on the road for their final preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. Mike Tomlin held out nearly every starter for the first two games. This week, he left the door open for everybody other than Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Cameron Heyward, and T.J. Watt. I would imagine some of the other top starters will ultimately sit out, but he is having them all prepare as if it’s game day.
The Panthers will not be playing their starters, so the Steelers may have a quick hook on their starters if they decide to play them. The next time they suit up after this will be Week 1 on the road against the New York Jets in a game that matters.
Roman Wilson, Derrick Harmon, and Kaleb Johnson were the biggest stories of last week’s preseason game. Tracking their progress should once again be the top story, along with the performance of the offensive line. The run game has taken a lot of flak in recent weeks, so they will be looking for a bounce-back performance in that area.
This is also the last opportunity for players on the 90-man roster to state their case to make the 53-man roster. Cutdowns happen on Tuesday. You can view one of our latest roster predictions here.
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Several starters are going to play after all. Isaac Seumalo will not, but Jalen Ramsey and many others will see at least a drive or two.
START OF GAME
The Steelers are starting with the ball and Kaleb Johnson returned the kickoff to the 30. Holding backed up the return 10 yards.
1st and 10, Jaylen Warren up the middle with some nice cuts for 6 yards, but holding called on Zach Frazier. 1st and 20, Rudolph rolled out and ran out of bounds for 3 yards. 2nd and 17, complete to Warren for 12 yards, but he fumbled. The Steelers recovered. 3rd and 5, pass interference over the middle intended for Pat Freiermuth.
1st and 10, Kenneth Gainwell for 5 yards up the middle. 2nd and 5, Gainwell broke off a 24-yard run, but it was called back on a hold. Lots of slop in this game so far. 2nd and 15, complete to Lance McCutcheon for 15 yards to convert.
1st and 10, Jaylen Warren stopped for a loss of 1. 2nd and 11, complete to Warren, but he slipped before he could turn upfield. 3rd and 11, complete to Freiermuth short and he fought for 5 yards.
Cameron Johnston in first for the punter competition. It went 33 yards to the 13, returned out to the 23.
1st and 10, Trevor Etienne up the middle for no gain. DeMarvin Leal lined up offsides. 1st and 5, Etienne up the middle for 28 yards. Not a good look for the Steelers’ first-team defense, albeit minus a few players.
1st and 10, Plummer complete to Blackshear for 7 yards. 2nd and 3, Blackshear up the middle for 5 yards.
1st and 10, Plummer complete, but offensive holding wiped out the 9-yard gain. 1st and 20, Ramsey called for unnecessary roughness.
1st and 10, Plummer to Hunter Renfrow for 2 yards. 2nd and 8, complete to Renfreow for 3 more yards and Ramsey in for the tackle. 3rd and 5, incomplete to Etienne. Yahya Black got his hand on the pass. The field goal was good from 43 yards out. 3-0 Panthers.
1st and 10, complete to Max Hurleman over the middle, but he couldn’t keep his feet. 2nd and 6, Warren up the middle for 3 yards. 3rd and 3, Rudolph forced to the throw the ball away after escaping the pocket to his left.
Corliss Waitman in for the second punt. It went just 35 yards. and rolled out ofb ounds at the 30. He was unhappy with that one.
1st and 10, Payton Wilson sniffed out the screen and it was dropped by the receiver. 2nd and 10, Derrick Harmon in on the tackle for just 2 yards. 3rd and 8, Leal in on the pressure with Jack Sawyer and the pass fell incomplete. Ke’Shawn Williams returned the punt 8 yards to the 22.
Mason Rudolph on a sprint out complete to Freiermuth for just 1 yard. 2nd and 9, Freiermuth with a nice block on the edge and Kaleb Johnson around the left end for 7 yards. 3rd and 2, Johnson up the middle for 8 yards. Solid work on back-to-back plays for the rookie.
END OF 1ST QUARTER: 3-0 PANTHERS
1st and 10, Rudolph intercepted by Lathan Ransom. It was returned to the Steelers’ 43-yard line.
1st and 10, Brandin Echols slowed him down in the backfield and teammates cleaned up for a loss of 6. 2nd and 16, Plummer complete to Blackshear for 6 yards. 3rd and 10, Eku Leota missed the sack and complete for 15 yards.
1st and 10, Plummer incomplete to Renfrow. 2nd and 10, Blackshear off left tackle for 4 yards. 3rd and 6, Plummer evaded pressure and found Dafney for 13 yards to convert.
1st and 5 from the 6 after too many men on the field, Plummer incomplete. 2nd and 5, Blackshear stopped after just 1 yard. 3rd and 4, Plummer nearly sacked by DeMarvin Leal, but he missed the tackle. The pass was intercepted by James Pierre in the end zone.
Skylar Thompson in the game at QB. 1st and 10, Johnson up the middle for 6 yards. 2nd and 4, Johnson up the middle for 1 yard. 3rd and 3, complete to Williams for 16 yards.
Steelers first-round DT Derrick Harmon was removed from the field on a cart with a towel draped over his head. Not a good sign for the Steelers. The only priority in the preseason is to get out healthy. Harmon is meant to be a big part of the defense and he’s playing into the second quarter?
1st and 10, Thompson complete to Johnson for 3 yards. 2nd and 7, Johnson up the middle for 1 yard. 3rd and 6, Thompson complete to McCutcheon for 24 yards and a touchdown. 7-3 Steelers.
1st and 10, Blacksher up the middle for 4 yards. 2nd and 6, Moore around left end for 19 yards.
1st and 10, Blackshear up the middle for no gain. 2nd and 10, Plummer incomplete to Hunter Renfrow. 3rd and 10, Plummer scrambled for 7 yards and a flag on the field. Defensive holding bails them out for a fresh set of downs.
1st and 10, screen pass for just 2 yards.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
2nd and 9, Blackshear up the middle for 3 yards. 3rd and 6, Plummer scrambled for 18 yards.
1st and goal, Leal called for a facemask penalty.
1st and goal from the 4, Blackshear up the middle for a loss of 1. 2nd and goal from the 5, false start. 2nd and goal from the 10, Blackshear up the middle for 2 yards. Timeout by the Panthers. 3rd and goal from the 8, wide open in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. 10-7 Panthers.
The kickoff was returned to the 27 by Kaleb Johnson. 1st and 10, Thompson deep to Scotty Miller for 53 yards and a timeout. Ben Sauls is kicking the field goal from 38 yards. It’s good. 10-10 Even.
END OF 1ST HALF: 10-10 PANTHERS
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