CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Panthers (0-2) will host the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-0) Friday night at Bank of America Stadium for the team’s final preseason game of 2021.
>> Complete live coverage of the game starts at 7 p.m. on Channel 9 with Primetime Panthers Gameday followed by the game at 7:30 p.m. Afterward, we will have post-game analysis and Eyewitness News at 11 p.m.
On Tuesday, the Panthers agreed to a $37.5 million contract extension with fifth-year wide receiver Robby Anderson.
“He had been known as a deep play threat and I know when we signed him some people said that’s all he is a deep-ball guy,” Panthers coach Matt Rhule said. “But he made most of his money last year across the middle, shallow catch-and-run type plays.”
ALERT: Road closures are already in place for tonight’s Panthers Game. Closures on Graham St., Mint St and Stonewall in front of @BofAstadium will stay in place thru 11:30 PM tonight! #clt #cltraffic #clttraffic pic.twitter.com/Jvp2stxY3m
— Traffic Team 9 (@TrafficTeam9) August 27, 2021
Rhule said Anderson has done everything asked of him and added that he loves his durability. Anderson started all 16 games last season.
Rhule is playing it safe when it comes to Christian McCaffrey’s playing time in the preseason. The running back has not played the two preseason game losses.
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“He will take a lot of hits during the season, more so than anyone else out there on the field, so we will save his hits for the season,” Rhule said following Carolina’s practice Monday.
Quarterback Sam Darnold is expected to play more than he did on Saturday night against the Ravens. Darnold played only seven snaps and completed 1 of 2 passes for 16 yards.
It's going to be quite toasty at the last @Panthers preseason game tonight. Temps will still be well into the 80s for most of the game. Sunset is at 7:57 pm, so at least you wont' be in direct sunshine for very long. pic.twitter.com/bUQZiThN5C
— Keith Monday (@kmondayWSOC9) August 27, 2021
“My preference would be that our (starters) would play a good half of football, and we will see who exactly that is as we get closer to the game,” Rhule said.
The home team acquired placekicker-punter Ryan Santoso from the New York Giants for a conditional 2022 seventh-round draft pick.
The Giants announced the deal on Thursday.
Santoso spent last season on the Giants practice squad, although he was put on the roster for games on Nov. 17 and Jan. 2. He did not play. He signed a reserve/futures contract on Jan. 26.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
(Watch Traffic Team 9′s Mark Taylor’s report on road closures and detours that will be in place for the game, in the video below)
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said that quarterback Dwayne Haskins will start their team’s preseason finale against the Panthers.
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Panthers also recently traded LB Denzel Perryman to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(Watch the video below: Rookie hopes to see first game action in preseason tilt against Ravens)
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