With training camp concluded, the Carolina Panthers are preparing for their final preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night. The outcome of the game will not affect regular season standings, and most starters, including quarterback Bryce Young and backup Andy Dalton, will not play. However, this matchup is crucial for players fighting to secure a spot on the 53-man roster or practice squad ahead of next week’s cutdown deadline.
Head coach Dave Canales emphasized the importance of this opportunity for those taking the field. “Go win, show us a win, show us that we can count on you,” Canales said Tuesday. “And this is not just for the roster, but we’re talking about the practice squad as well.
“These are high stakes moments for these guys. Every practice and especially every preseason game, these are the only opportunities that we get, so I’m really excited to see who elevates, who steps up and shows us something.”
The quarterback position will be under particular scrutiny. With Young and Dalton sidelined—Dalton recovering from an elbow injury but healthy enough to practice—the team will rely on Jack Plummer and recent addition Bryce Perkins to handle all snaps against Pittsburgh. Plummer has served as a practice squad quarterback over the past year and played in both previous preseason games. Perkins joins after leading his UFL team to a championship appearance last season.
Thursday’s contest serves as an audition for both quarterbacks—not only with Carolina but also with other NFL teams—as they face a defense known for its toughness under Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.
Another key area is special teams, where Matthew Wright and rookie Ryan Fitzgerald continue their competition for placekicker duties. Both kickers will alternate field goals and kickoffs during Thursday’s game. Fitzgerald has converted both his attempts so far (from 32 and 52 yards), while Wright missed his lone try from 55 yards. Their performance could determine who secures a spot on the final roster.
Other positional battles remain open due to starters sitting out. Wide receivers such as Brycen Tremayne—who impressed coaches in earlier games—and Jalen Coker have another chance to make their case. “The evaluation now is consistency, you know, can he continue to do it,” challenged Canales regarding Tremayne’s progress. “Can you do it one more time, can we count on him for weeks on end? That’s really the challenge for him; he’s doing a great job.”
At pass rusher, rookie Nic Scourton remains sidelined while recovering from an injury sustained during joint practices with Houston; this opens more playing time for Princely Umanmielen and others like Thomas Incoom, Boogie Basham, and J.J. Weaver.
Defensive back depth is also being evaluated closely among Corey Thornton, Shemar Bartholomew, and Akayleb Evans as they compete for rotational roles at cornerback.
Special teams play could be decisive in final roster decisions as well. Canales explained: “Big picture wise, it’s like who can cover kicks, who can make tackles, who can block guys in the return game and kickoff return or punt return? Those are the things to me that I just can’t say enough about the special teams value that players bring,” he said.
“We’re not going to call up a guy who can’t play on teams because it’s not worth it… They’re getting called up to be a depth player available for when someone bust a shoelace and you got to go in really quick… So are these guys that we can count on who have the physical aggressive nature but also understand what we’re doing…”
This week also marks head coach Canales’ return to play-calling duties after delegating offensive responsibilities during earlier preseason games—a move intended to help him prepare ahead of Week 1 alongside defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
As Thursday’s game approaches at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte—where fans have seen Bryce Young lead practices throughout camp—the focus shifts toward evaluating which players rise under pressure before final cuts shape Carolina’s regular season roster.
