CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Skylar Thompson completed 11 of 13 passes for 152 yards including a 24-yard touchdown strike to Lance McCutcheon, rookie Ben Sauls kicked four field goals and the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Carolina Panthers 19-10 on Thursday night in the preseason finale.
The Steelers (2-1) played a handful of starters on both sides of the ball, while the Panthers (0-3) rested all of theirs and several top reserves.
Getting some players extra preseason reps may have backfired on Steelers coach
Mike Tomlin as defensive end Derrick Harmon, the team's first-round draft pick, was carted to the locker room because of a sprained knee in the first half. Harmon, the 21st pick in the draft, did not return and will continue to be evaluated.
Tomlin said Harmon has a "knee sprain of some description" and called the injury significant. He did not give a timetable on his return.
Tomlin said despite holding the Panthers to 10 points, there are areas to improve upon.
“I thought we were highly penalized, we turned the ball over there early and the tackling was shaky at best at times,” Tomlin said. “I think they had 100 yards rushing at the half and that’s just kind of indicative of how poor the tackling was at times.”
Thompson entered the game in the second quarter in relief of Mason Rudolph, who started with Aaron Rodgers sitting out. Thompson completed his first five passes for 72 yards, including a perfectly-placed over-the-shoulder pass to McCutcheon in the left corner of the end zone for the game's first touchdown.
Thompson also connected on a 53-yard strike to Scotty Miller, who finished with 82 yards on three receptions.
“He’s not afraid to attack,” Tomlin said. “I mean, he comes in boom, boom, boom. He’s got playing experience. This guy started (three career) games in Miami and so, I think that experience shows.”
Rudolph finished 6 of 8 for 36 yards, including an interception on an overthrow.
“Hey, we’re not a finished product, but no one is,” Tomlin said.
Jack Plummer, playing in place of Bryce Young and the injured Andy Dalton, started slow for the Panthers with a red-zone interception on Carolina's third possession after escaping pressure in the pocket. But he battled back to complete 7 of 14 passes for 48 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown toss to a wide-open James Mitchell in the corner of the end zone to tie it at 10 before halftime.
Carolina struggled in the second half under recently signed quarterback Bryce Perkins, who turned the ball over on a sack-fumble by Yahya Black and failed to lead a scoring drive.
Panthers rookie outside linebacker Princely Umanmielen said he's not worried about the team going winless in the preseason and being outscored 69-23.
“I don’t really look at it too much and read into it too much because (teammates) DJ Wonnum and Pat Jones told me when they were at Minnesota they never won a preseason game — and Minnesota was usually always in the playoffs," Umanmielen said.
Running back Jaylen Warren made his preseason debut for the Steelers and had 3 yards rushing on two carries and 12 yards receiving on two catches. Warren is expected to start for the Steelers this season, although rookie Kaleb Johnson will push him for playing time.
Johnson had 24 yards on five carries.
Ryan Fitzgerald made a 43-yard field goal and an extra point for the Panthers.
The rookie from Florida State is battling for a roster spot with journeyman Matthew Wright. The Panthers elected not to re-sign unrestricted free agent Eddy Pineiro. Despite being the NFL's third-most accurate kicker ever at 88.1%, Pineiro has yet to land a spot with an NFL team.
Sauls made field goals of 38, 50, 49 and 28 yards.
“Really happy for Ben Sauls, the work he was able to show us tonight, man, good for him,” Tomlin said.
Steelers: Aside from Harmon, WR Brandon Johnson left in the first half with a foot injury.
Panthers: Umanmielen said he will have an MRI on his right shoulder on Friday. OT Ja'Tyre Carter (ankle) and RB Raheem Blackshear (ankle) sustained injuries.
Both teams open the season on the road Sept. 7, with the Steelers facing the Jets, and Panthers playing the Jaguars.
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