The Carolina Panthers lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 19-10 in their third preseason game on Thursday in Charlotte. The matchup provided a look at individual performances and player usage as the team prepares for the regular season.
Running back Trevor Etienne had the Panthers’ longest run of the preseason with a 28-yard gain in the first quarter. Quarterback Bryce Perkins made his preseason debut for Carolina, completing 10 of 11 passes for 71 yards and finishing with a passer rating of 93.6. Jack Plummer, another quarterback, completed seven of 14 passes for 48 yards and threw one touchdown.
Tight end Dominique Dafney led the team with two catches for 21 yards, including a 13-yard reception in the second quarter. Fellow tight end James Mitchell caught his first touchdown of the preseason, a seven-yard pass from Plummer.
On defense, outside linebacker Princely Umanmielen and defensive lineman Cam Jackson each registered two quarterback pressures. Umanmielen pressured the quarterback on one-third of his snaps where he rushed; Jackson did so on about one-seventh of such snaps.
Rookie safety Lathan Ransom intercepted Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph and returned it for 16 yards, marking Ransom’s first interception as a Panther. He also led Carolina with five solo tackles.
Defensive backs Michael Reid (20.60 mph), Akayleb Evans (20.11 mph), and Corey Thornton (20 mph) were recorded as the fastest players on defense during Thursday’s game. On offense, Jack Plummer reached nearly 20 mph while scrambling for an 18-yard gain.
Undrafted rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald converted a 43-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter and has been perfect throughout all three preseason games, making field goals from distances of 32, 52, and 43 yards. Punter Sam Martin averaged just over 51 yards per punt across three attempts.
Rookie Jimmy Horn Jr. led kickoff returns with three attempts totaling nearly sixty yards.
Second-year offensive lineman Jarrett Kingston played every offensive snap—67 total—for Carolina in this game, showing versatility by playing both center and guard positions as roster decisions near. Other linemen logging more than half the snaps included Brandon Walton, Michael Tarquin, Luke Kandra, Steven Losoya, along with quarterback Jack Plummer.
Veteran receiver David Moore was just below half of offensive plays at forty-nine percent participation; he is competing amid increased depth at wide receiver this year under head coach Dave Canales.
“Jarrett Kingston deserves some kind of a medal,” according to comments from within the organization describing his effort across all snaps played Thursday night.
Safety Lathan Ransom saw significant playing time while vying for a spot among regular starters; he made several key plays including an interception and five tackles over twenty-nine defensive snaps plus special teams action.
Outside linebacker Boogie Basham appeared most frequently among defenders due to injuries thinning that position group—he played thirty-three snaps or two-thirds of available defensive plays.
Linebacker Claudin Cherelus did not participate on special teams since coaches are familiar with his abilities there; meanwhile rookie safety Jack Henderson took part in twelve special teams plays as he competes for a role primarily through contributions to kick coverage units.
Kicker Matthew Wright was active but did not see action as Fitzgerald handled all kicking duties during this contest.
