Hope you didn’t blink: Steelers starters on field for 3 plays each in 21-10 win over Panthers

Little to see in Steelers’ 21-10 win over Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Pittsburgh’s first team defense forced a three-and-out, Stefan Logan returned a punt for a touchdown, and the Steelers’ second unit made Carolina punt before Ben Roethlisberger hit the field.

He threw one swing pass for seven yards on third-and-9 and called it a night.

With the Super Bowl champions opening the real season in a week, coach Mike Tomlin took few chances in the final exhibition Thursday, a 21-10 victory over the Panthers.

The first-team offense and defense took three snaps apiece, with the defense finishing the preseason without allowing a touchdown despite NFL defensive player of the year James Harrison not even suiting up.

Carolina, meanwhile, did little to ease concerns in what was a shaky, injury-plagued and winless preseason.

Jake Delhomme was 2 of 4 for 19 yards before exiting after two series, seven plays and one first down as the first-team offense finished with one touchdown in four exhibitions.

The first-team defense is the bigger concern, banged-up and unable to stop even Pittsburgh’s reserves.

With Roethlisberger already wearing a baseball cap, rookie running back Isaac Redman may have cemented his spot on the 53-man roster by barreling over Chris Harris, Julius Peppers and others on a 10-yard touchdown run.

Coupled with Logan’s 80-yard punt return, Pittsburgh (3-1) led 14-0 before the barrage of third-stringers entered early in the second quarter.

Sloppiness ensued.

Backup quarterback Josh McCown lost a fumble for Carolina (0-4). So did rookie running back Mike Goodson. It was recovered by Pittsburgh linebacker Donovan Woods, who injured his hamstring on the return.

Ryan Mundy returned Matt Moore’s interception 31 yards to give Pittsburgh a 21-7 third-quarter lead.

The concern for Pittsburgh was the number of reserves banged up in a game where a combined 44 players won’t be around after Saturday. Defensive tackle Scott Paxson (concussion) and receivers Dallas Baker (hip) and Tyler Grisham (shoulder) all left.

The Steelers decided not to even put Harrison, not listed as being injured, on the field. Receiver Santonio Holmes (back) and running back Willie Parker (hamstring) didn’t dress and linebacker Lawrence Timmons (ankle) didn’t travel.

The performance provided little optimism in a tumultuous week for Carolina. Owner Jerry Richardson’s two sons abruptly resigned from the organization on Tuesday. Richardson, still recovering from a February heart transplant, hired TCU athletic director Danny Morrison a day later to replace Mark Richardson as team president.

A cheerful Morrison attended the game, greeting fans and reporters. But with Jerry Richardson watching from his luxury box, the Panthers looked little like last year’s NFC South-winning club.

Starting linebackers Jon Beason (knee) and Na’il Diggs (undisclosed) and safety Charles Godfrey (hand) didn’t play for a poor-tackling defense that hasn’t found its way under new coordinator Ron Meeks. It didn’t help that rookie defensive tackle Corvey Irvin left with a knee injury.

Goodson rushed 15 times for 79 yards and Jamall Lee had a 1-yard TD run for Carolina. Redman rushed for 79 yards for the Steelers, who will get to celebrate their Super Bowl title and play a real game with their stars next week against Tennessee.