{"id":295586,"date":"2025-08-17T14:39:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-17T14:39:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/295586\/"},"modified":"2025-08-17T14:39:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T14:39:09","slug":"panthers-wont-play-starters-against-steelers-in-preseason-finale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/295586\/","title":{"rendered":"Panthers Won’t Play Starters Against Steelers In Preseason Finale"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have faced starters in both of their preseason contests. They won\u2019t see it for a third time Thursday night. Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales announced his squad will rest its starters for the preseason finale against Pittsburgh. Despite uneven performances, Canales is sticking to his original plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dave Canales says starters won’t play next week against Pittsburgh, which was his plan all along.
But man, tough to roll into the regular season after these two shoddy performances.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Joe Person (@josephperson) August 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

The Panthers are 0-2 in the preseason with both sides of the ball struggling. Outscored 50-13 in those contests, quarterback Bryce Young has completed just half of his passes while the running game has done little. First-round pick Tetairoa McMillan had one long catch in his preseason debut but has been invisible since, failing to catch a pass on two targets in yesterday\u2019s 20-3 loss to the Houston Texans.<\/p>\n

Despite that, the Panthers won\u2019t risk injury and will rest their starters. Meaning, the Steelers won\u2019t see Young, McMillan, and key defensive players like CB Jaycee Horn (who has battled a thumb injury) and DT Derrick Brown.<\/p>\n

Carolina\u2019s No. 2 quarterback is veteran Andy Dalton, but he left yesterday\u2019s game with an elbow injury. Canales told reporters Dalton appears to have avoided a serious injury but will have imaging done<\/a> for a definitive determination. If held out of Thursday\u2019s game, Jack Plummer is the only other quarterback on the Panthers\u2019 roster and will get the start. He completed 10-of-14 passes for 83 yards with two interceptions against the Texans.<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh\u2019s defense will likely see plenty of rookie RB Trevor Etienne and WR Jimmy Horn while veteran and former Las Vegas Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow, signed in the offseason after missing all of 2024 with an illness, could also see plenty of snaps.<\/p>\n

Mike Tomlin hasn\u2019t announced if he\u2019ll play any of his starters. Most of the team\u2019s key players haven\u2019t logged a snap this preseason. QB Aaron Rodgers, WR DK Metcalf, EDGE T.J. Watt, CB\/S Jalen Ramsey, and other notable names were rested<\/a> against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The only starting unit that has seen significant playing time is the offensive line. Tomlin will speak to the media Tuesday and likely offer an update.<\/p>\n