Ben Sauls went 4-for-4 on field goals — from 50, 49, 38 and 28 yards — without a miss, and Skylar Thompson completed 11 of 13 passes for a 141.0 passer rating as the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Carolina Panthers 19–10 in the 2025 NFL preseason finale on August 21 at Bank of America Stadium. Carolina rested its entire starting unit and several key reserves; the Panthers closed the preseason 0-3 and were outscored 69–23 across the three games. First-round defensive lineman Derrick Harmon was carted off the field in the second quarter with an MCL sprain — a diagnosis confirmed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport the following morning — casting a shadow over a game Pittsburgh otherwise controlled comfortably.
Table of Contents
Game Information
Date
August 21, 2025
Kickoff
7:00 PM ET
Venue
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Attendance
72,110
Broadcast
NFL Network / KDKA-TV
Pittsburgh Record
2–1 (Preseason)
Carolina Record
0–3 (Preseason)
Officiating Crew
Role
Official
Referee
Adrian Hill
Umpire
Roy Ellison
Down Judge
Derick Bowers
Line Judge
Julian Mapp
Field Judge
Trawick Boger
Side Judge
Clay Reynard
Back Judge
Greg Steed
Score by Quarter
Team
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Final
Pittsburgh Steelers
0
10
3
6
19
Carolina Panthers
3
7
0
0
10
Scoring Summary
Qtr
Time
Score
Play
Drive
Q1
4:20
PIT 0 – CAR 3
Ryan Fitzgerald 43-yd FG
8 plays, 52 yds
Q2
5:47
PIT 7 – CAR 3
Lance McCutcheon 24-yd pass from Skylar Thompson (Chris Boswell XP)
8 plays, 80 yds
Q2
0:17
PIT 7 – CAR 10
James Mitchell 7-yd pass from Jack Plummer (Ryan Fitzgerald XP)
12 plays, 78 yds
Q2
0:00
PIT 10 – CAR 10
Ben Sauls 38-yd FG
2 plays, 53 yds
Q3
5:07
PIT 13 – CAR 10
Ben Sauls 50-yd FG
10 plays, 8 yds
Q4
13:45
PIT 16 – CAR 10
Ben Sauls 49-yd FG
8 plays, 49 yds
Q4
6:21
PIT 19 – CAR 10
Ben Sauls 28-yd FG
6 plays, 46 yds
Team Stats
Stat
Pittsburgh
Carolina
Total Yards
325
255
Passing Yards
226
84
Rushing Yards
99
171
Total Plays
45
63
Yards per Play
7.2
4.0
1st Downs
15
21
— Passing
10
9
— Rushing
3
9
— Penalty
2
3
3rd Down Efficiency
4/9 (44%)
9/16 (56%)
4th Down Efficiency
0/0
0/0
Red Zone (Made/Att)
0/2
1/2
Penalties
13 for 104 yds
7 for 73 yds
Turnovers
1
2
— Fumbles Lost
0
1
— Interceptions Thrown
1
1
Sacks Allowed
0
3 (–35 yds)
Total Drives
8
8
Time of Possession
25:02
34:58
Pittsburgh Steelers Player Stats
Passing
Player
C/ATT
YDS
AVG
TD
INT
SACKS
RTG
Skylar Thompson
11/13
152
11.7
1
0
0–0
141.0
Logan Woodside
4/6
38
6.3
0
0
0–0
84.0
Mason Rudolph
6/8
36
4.5
0
1
0–0
43.8
Team
21/27
226
8.4
1
1
0–0
98.5
Rudolph started with Aaron Rodgers held out, threw an early interception on an overthrow, and was relieved by Thompson in the second quarter. Thompson completed his first five passes for 72 yards, hit Scotty Miller on a 53-yard gain, then put the first touchdown on the board with a 24-yard over-the-shoulder strike to Lance McCutcheon in the left corner of the end zone.
Rushing
Player
CAR
YDS
AVG
TD
LONG
Trey Sermon
4
39
9.8
0
30
Kaleb Johnson
5
24
4.8
0
8
Lew Nichols
2
14
7.0
0
9
Evan Hull
2
9
4.5
0
8
Kenneth Gainwell
2
7
3.5
0
5
Mason Rudolph
1
3
3.0
0
3
Jaylen Warren
2
3
1.5
0
3
Team
18
99
5.5
0
30
Receiving
Player
REC
TGT
YDS
AVG
TD
LONG
Scotty Miller
3
3
82
27.3
0
53
Lance McCutcheon
3
4
52
17.3
1
24
Ke’Shawn Williams
2
3
31
15.5
0
16
Lew Nichols
3
4
21
7.0
0
23
Trey Sermon
3
4
14
4.7
0
9
Jaylen Warren
2
2
12
6.0
0
12
Pat Freiermuth
2
2
6
3.0
0
5
Max Hurleman
1
1
4
4.0
0
4
Evan Hull
1
1
2
2.0
0
2
Kaleb Johnson
1
1
2
2.0
0
2
JJ Galbreath
0
1
0
—
0
0
Team
21
26
226
10.8
1
53
Defense
Player
TOT
SOLO
SACKS
TFL
PD
QB HTS
Carson Bruener
7
5
0
0
0
0
Yahya Black
5
3
2
2
0
1
Jack Sawyer
5
3
0
2
0
1
Miles Killebrew
5
1
0
0
0
0
Malik Harrison
4
3
0
1
0
0
Quindell Johnson
4
2
0
0
0
0
Jalen Ramsey
3
3
0
0
0
0
DeMarvin Leal
3
3
0
0
0
0
Esezi Otomewo
3
2
0
2
0
0
Mark Robinson
3
2
0
0
0
0
Eku Leota
3
2
0
1
0
0
Julius Welschof
3
2
0
1
0
0
Mikey Victor
3
2
0
0
0
0
Brandin Echols
3
0
0
0
0
0
Logan Lee
3
0
0
0
0
0
Daniel Ekuale
2
2
0
0
0
0
Isaiahh Loudermilk
2
1
0
0
0
0
D’Shawn Jamison
2
1
0
0
0
1
Sebastian Castro
2
1
0
0
0
0
Domenique Davis
2
1
0
0
0
0
Daryl Porter Jr.
2
1
0
0
0
0
Kyler Baugh
1
1
1
1
0
1
Darius Slay
1
1
0
0
0
0
James Pierre
1
1
0
0
1
0
Kyler McMichael
1
1
0
0
0
0
Chuck Clark
1
0
0
0
0
0
DeShon Elliott
1
0
0
0
0
0
Zach Frazier
1
0
0
0
0
0
Evan Hull
1
0
0
0
0
0
Derrick Harmon
1
0
0
0
0
0
Max Hurleman
1
0
0
0
0
0
Kaleb Johnson
1
0
0
0
0
0
Team
80
44
3
10
1
4
Interceptions
Player
INT
YDS
TD
James Pierre
1
0
0
Fumble Log
Player
FUM
LOST
REC
Jaylen Warren
1
0
0
Roman Wilson
0
0
1
Mark Robinson
0
0
1
Special Teams
Kicking
Player
FG
FG%
LONG
XP
PTS
Ben Sauls
4/4
100%
50 yds
0/0
12
Chris Boswell
0/0
—
—
1/1
1
Punting
Player
NO
YDS
AVG
LONG
Corliss Waitman
1
35
35.0
35
Cameron Johnston
1
33
33.0
33
Team
2
68
34.0
35
Kick Returns
Player
NO
YDS
AVG
LONG
TD
Kaleb Johnson
3
66
22.0
22
0
Punt Returns
Player
NO
YDS
AVG
LONG
TD
Ke’Shawn Williams
2
19
9.5
11
0
Carolina Panthers Player Stats
Passing
Player
C/ATT
YDS
AVG
TD
INT
SACKS
RTG
Bryce Perkins
10/11
71
6.5
0
0
3–35
93.6
Jack Plummer
7/14
48
3.4
1
1
0–0
52.1
Team
17/25
84
4.8
1
1
3–35
75.3
Plummer started in place of Bryce Young and the injured Andy Dalton, threw a red-zone interception on Carolina’s third possession, then found James Mitchell on a 7-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone to tie the game at 10 before halftime. Bryce Perkins, recently signed, took over in the second half and absorbed three sacks — including a strip sack by Yahya Black that ended the Panthers’ best scoring opportunity.
Rushing
Player
CAR
YDS
AVG
TD
LONG
Raheem Blackshear
11
35
3.2
0
17
Emani Bailey
9
31
3.4
0
14
Bryce Perkins
2
28
14.0
0
15
Trevor Etienne
3
26
8.7
0
28
Jack Plummer
2
22
11.0
0
18
David Moore
1
19
19.0
0
19
Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams
7
10
1.4
0
7
Team
35
171
4.9
0
28
Receiving
Player
REC
TGT
YDS
AVG
TD
LONG
Dominique Dafney
2
2
21
10.5
0
13
T.J. Luther
1
1
15
15.0
0
15
Jimmy Horn Jr.
1
1
13
13.0
0
13
Jacolby George
1
1
12
12.0
0
12
Kobe Hudson
2
3
12
6.0
0
6
Bryce Pierre
1
1
11
11.0
0
11
Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams
2
2
10
5.0
0
8
Raheem Blackshear
2
2
8
4.0
0
7
James Mitchell
1
1
7
7.0
1
7
Ja’seem Reed
1
1
6
6.0
0
6
Hunter Renfrow
2
3
5
2.5
0
3
David Moore
0
1
0
—
0
0
Trevor Etienne
0
3
0
—
0
0
Emani Bailey
1
1
–1
–1.0
0
–1
Team
17
23
119
7.0
1
15
Defense
Player
TOT
SOLO
SACKS
TFL
PD
QB HTS
Lathan Ransom
5
5
0
0
1
0
Isaac Gifford
5
3
0
0
0
0
Bam Martin-Scott
5
3
0
0
0
0
Krys Barnes
5
2
0
0
0
0
Tre Swilling
3
2
0
0
0
0
Jon Rhattigan
3
2
0
0
0
0
Boogie Basham
2
2
0
0
0
1
Akayleb Evans
2
2
0
0
0
0
Claudin Cherelus
2
2
0
0
0
0
Jacoby Windmon
2
2
0
0
0
0
Thomas Incoom
2
2
0
0
0
1
Jared Harrison-Hunte
2
1
0
0
0
1
J.J. Weaver
2
1
0
0
0
0
Shy Tuttle
1
1
0
0
0
0
Sam Roberts
1
1
0
0
0
0
Shemar Bartholomew
1
1
0
0
0
0
Demani Richardson
1
1
0
0
0
0
Princely Umanmielen
1
1
0
0
0
0
Corey Thornton
1
1
0
0
0
0
Jack Henderson
1
1
0
0
0
0
Michael Reid
1
1
0
1
0
0
JaTravis Broughton
1
0
0
0
0
0
Trevian Thomas
1
0
0
0
0
0
Cam Jackson
1
0
0
0
0
0
Team
51
37
0
1
1
3
Interceptions
Player
INT
YDS
TD
Lathan Ransom
1
16
0
Fumble Log
Player
FUM
LOST
REC
Bryce Perkins
3
1
2
Special Teams
Kicking
Player
FG
FG%
LONG
XP
PTS
Ryan Fitzgerald
1/1
100%
43 yds
1/1
4
Punting
Player
NO
YDS
AVG
TB
IN 20
LONG
Sam Martin
3
153
51.0
1
0
55
Kick Returns
Player
NO
YDS
AVG
LONG
TD
Jimmy Horn Jr.
3
59
19.7
28
0
Trevor Etienne
1
18
18.0
18
0
Team
4
77
19.3
28
0
Punt Returns
Player
NO
YDS
AVG
LONG
TD
Trevor Etienne
1
10
10.0
10
0
Injury Report — August 21, 2025
Player
Team
Injury
Game Status
Derrick Harmon
Pittsburgh
MCL sprain (knee)
Carted off Q2; did not return
Brandon Johnson
Pittsburgh
Foot
Left in first half; did not return
Raheem Blackshear
Carolina
Ankle
Sustained during game
Ja’Tyre Carter
Carolina
Ankle
Sustained during game
Princely Umanmielen
Carolina
Right shoulder
MRI scheduled for following day
Harmon — Pittsburgh’s 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft — went down in the second quarter while pursuing Jack Plummer. He was twisted to the turf by Panthers offensive tackle Brandon Walton, carted off visibly emotional with a towel draped over his head. He returned to the sideline later in the game and was able to walk. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirmed the MCL diagnosis the following morning, reporting Harmon was expected to miss approximately one month and was a candidate to open the regular season on injured reserve.
Harmon did land on injured reserve, sitting out Pittsburgh’s first four regular-season games. The other lasting outcome from that night in Charlotte: Sauls made the 53-man roster behind four clean field goals — 28, 38, 49 and 50 yards — hours before the final cut deadline. Thompson, who had started three career games across two seasons with Miami, secured the Steelers’ backup quarterback position behind Aaron Rodgers. Carolina opened the regular season on September 7 in Jacksonville, with Bryce Young under center and a 0-3 preseason in the rearview.
Cornelia Lindqvist is a Swedish-American sports journalist with 4 years of experience covering professional athletics. She previously worked at Sports Illustrated before joining Newzire. Cornelia reports on the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, international football, and cricket, covering game results, roster moves, trade deals, playoff standings, and player statistics. Her sports analysis background helps readers understand the strategies and numbers behind wins and losses.
