PITTSBURGH, P.A. --The preseason came to an end for the Carolina Panthers on Thursday, as they fell 39-24 to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. 

The Panthers wrapped up the exhibition schedule with a 3-1 record.

 

 

 Head Coach Ron Rivera rested his projected starters for this game, choosing to keep them out of harms way before opening the season on September 9, when the Panthers host the Dallas Cowboys.

Pittsburgh started the scoring, and led 14-0 before Taylor Heinicke got Carolina on the board with a six-yard touchdown pass to Mose Frazier, but that is as close as Carolina would get.

“I think there were some good things,” Rivera said after the game.  “It’s tough when you’re not playing with everybody.  We knew that going in, it would be tough, but we’ll take a look at things, and we’ll evaluate.  We’ll come to conclusions in the next couple days.”

Those conclusions are coach-speak for making roster cuts. All NFL teams must trim their rosters down from 90 to 53 by 4:00pm on Saturday. The Panthers are in an enviable position, as they will likely be cutting players that stand a good chance of ending up on other rosters throughout the league.

The back-up quarterback picture may have come into focus a little more with the play of Heinicke. The third-year pro out of Old Dominion went 7 for 12 passing for 68 yards, and a touchdown, while Garrett Gilbert was 4 of 7 for 23 yards.  Gilbert also fumbled while being sacked, a turnover that Pittsburgh would convert into a field goal.

Rivera lamented not having more time for Gilbert to get a little more work.

“Yeah, you do wish that all the time,” Rivera said.  “Again, we’re trying to evaluate so we can go forward and make decisions.  We knew what it was going to be like, and you just want to see guys and see how they operate and handle situations.  That’s all part of the process.”

Carolina’s 4th quarterback, Kyle Allen, saw his most extensive preseason work, playing the entire second half. His numbers were much bigger than his counterparts (25 of 36, 250 yards, 1 TD), but he was sacked twice, and fumbled once.  Pittsburgh took the turnover back to the Panthers 1-yard line, and eventually scored a touchdown.

As decision time approaches for Rivera and the Panthers front office, the overall feeling from the team is positive, in spite of the injury woes that have plagued the offensive line throughout training camp and the preseason.  Thursday’s result aside, the self-proclaimed “glass half-full” Rivera is looking forward to starting the season.

“I feel good about some of the things we’ve done,” Rivera said.  “I thought in the first three games, when our first group got some opportunities, they did some really good things, but you never really know.”

“Once we start playing next week, we’ll have a better feel for who we are, and who we can be.  I like the fact that we open up at home,  I like the fact that we open up against Dallas.  They’re a good football team, and it’s a good challenge for us to see exactly where we are as a team.”

NOTES:

  • Charlotte native Elijah Hood suffered a knee injury on the opening kickoff of the game.  He left the field with the help of team trainers, but was seen on the broadcast being carted back to the locker room.  Hood did not return to the game, and his chances of making the roster took a damaging hit as a result.  Rivera said he was hoping to have Hood involved in the offense to give him a long look.
  • Running back Reggie Bonnafon could end up being the benefactor of Hood’s injury, thanks to his performance on Thursday night.  Bonnafon gained just four yards on five carries, but he did catch six passes for 56 yards, a 9.3 yards per catch average.  It was his play after a turnover that was the most eye-opening.  The 4th quarter fumble from Kyle Allen was grabbed in mid-air by Steelers linebacker Matthew Thomas.  Thomas took off from his own 23 yard line, and was pulling away from Allen in pursuit, along with tight end Evan Baylis.  Bonnafon sprinted past both of his teammates and made a touchdown-saving tackle at the Carolina one yard line.  The Steelers would eventually score on the ensuing drive, but that sort of hustle doesn’t go unnoticed.  Bonnafon may not be in line for a roster spot, but could end up on the Panthers practice squad.
  • Rivera, Colin Jones, Christian McCaffrey and Shaq Thompson will be on hand at the Charlotte Touchdown Club on Friday, taking part in the annual Carolina Panthers Kickoff Luncheon.