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The Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Carolina Panthers for the 16th consecutive year in the preseason on Thursday night and the matchup should be an important encounter for a number of players still fighting for a roster spot.
Although preseason contests with Carolina are an annual affair, the two sides have met only six times during the regular season dating back to 1996. While the Panthers won the first game, they haven’t won one since, and Pittsburgh currently enjoys a 5-1 record over them. Pittsburgh is 2-0 against Carolina since Mike Tomlin took control of the team in 2007.
Joshua Dobbs is expected to start for the Steelers, and the evening could end up being his showcase event for any teams still searching for a backup quarterback, if rumors about potential trade interest in him are legitimate.
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Preseason Week 4:
Game: Carolina Panthers @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Date: Thursday, August 30
Kickoff: 7.30 p.m. ET
Venue: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh
Weather: Live weather update
Watch:
TV Channel: Broadcast locally on KDKA-Channel 2 with Bob Pompeani and Charlie Batch as commentators and Missi Matthews the sideline reporter. Check the national broadcast map to see if the game is on in your area.
Online: NFL.com Game Pass live in the US (because it’s preseason) and live for international viewers or live via a subscription to NFL Sunday Ticket. The NFL Game Center will update the action on a play-by-play basis.
Radio: Steeler Nation Radio with Bill Hillgrove and Tunch Ilkin as commentators and Craig Wolfley as the sideline reporter. Broadcast live on WDVE 102.5 FM and WBGG 970 AM in the Pittsburgh area and online via Steelers.com and the Steelers Official Mobile App.
You can also follow Behind the Steel Curtain on Twitter to catch all of the highlights as they happen, and be sure to check back with us after the game for our post-match roundup.
Inactives:
The Steelers are expected to rest several veteran names for the contest, but the team has not officially announced which players that will be. With tight ends Vance McDonald and Xavier Grimble still unable to practice in the run-up to the game, neither is expected to play on Thursday night. Mike Tomlin suggested he was holding the door open for all the other names nursing injuries to be able to suit up against the Panthers, but it remains doubtful that names like T.J. Watt will see much, if any action.