John Fox will evaluate players on the bubble during the Panthers final preseason game Thursday night
The Carolina Panthers will travel to Pittsburgh Thursday night for the final preseason game with plenty of questions still to be answered.
The offense has struggled mightily without two of its top performers–running back Jonathan Stewart and wide receiver Steve Smith–having yet to see any action on the field, and new quarterback Matt Moore still seems to be trying to grasp the offense.
The Panthers will take on the Steelers with several roster spots still being sorted out, and opportunities will be plenty for players to have one last shot at showing the coaching staff why they deserve to included on the 53-man roster once cuts are made.
Rookie Jimmy Clausen appears to be firmly entrenched as the team’s second quarterback, but Hunter Cantwell and Tony Pike will play most of the game Thursday to see which one wins out as the team’s third quarterback.
For Pike, a rookie out of Cincinnati, Thursday’s game is a big deal.
“It’s a big game,” Pike said after practice Wednesday. “For me, it’s kind of like going to the Super Bowl or something.”
Cantwell, who spent most of last season on the Panthers practice squad, also knows he just isn’t auditioning for the Panthers.
“You just know that every rep is important, not only for the Carolina Panthers in evaluation, but other teams around the league.”
Coach John Fox said that the starters will likely play most of the opening quarter, then he will turn the game over to those fighting for jobs.
“I think for a lot of guys, especially the bottom half if the roster, this is a big weekend.”