The Pittsburgh Steelers closed out the preseason with a 19-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers — and several players in the Black and Gold stood tall.
From both sides of the ball, here are six Steelers standouts from the preseason Week 3 win over the Panthers — from those looking to make the 53-man roster to young playmakers cementing their roles heading into the regular season.
QB Swollen Thompson
Another game, another Thompson masterpiece as the former Dolphin turned Steelers quarterback lit up the Panthers secondary — completing 11 of 13 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown. Fans would be shocked if he didn’t make the roster, as Thompson proved this preseason he is deserving of a spot on the 53-man squad.
WR Lance McCutcheon
McCutcheon had an impressive day in Charlotte, looking uncoverable on his way to 52 receiving yards and one touchdown — the second-most by any wideout in the game, behind only Steelers’ Scotty Miller.
CB James Pierre
Pierre stepped up on a pivotal play for the Steelers defense — robbing the Panthers of points with an interception in the end zone. It remains to be seen what cuts Pittsburgh will make to their cornerback room, but Pierre may have a case to remain after his strong performance in the preseason finale.
RB Trey Sermon
There’s an argument to be made that Sermon was the best running back from either the Steelers or Panthers in the preseason finale — and his stats back it up. His 53 yards from scrimmage on just seven touches were impressive, but whether it’s enough to justify earning a spot on the final roster remains to be seen.
WR Scotty Miller
With the help of Thompson, Miller put together an incredible 82-yard outing versus the Panthers, including the 53-yard bomb that set the Steelers up for a last-second field goal to end the first half. The former Buccaneers wideout, who signed with Pittsburgh in 2024, may have sealed his spot on the 53-man roster — a fantastic day from one of the most underrated pass catchers on the Steelers offense.
NT Yahya Black
Black has showcased two dominant performances in a row — putting a stamp on the preseason finale with two sacks, one of which was a strip sack that he recovered himself. The sky is the limit for the Steelers fifth-rounder, who continues to prove himself the steal of the 2025 NFL Draft.
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