Haskins falters in finale vs. Carolina, leaving Rudolph as clear No. 2 taken in Charlotte, N.C. (Steelers)

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Dwayne Haskins scrambles away from the Panthers’ Morgan Fox in the first half Friday night in Charlotte, N.C.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dwayne Haskins entered the Steelers' preseason finale Friday night against the Panthers hoping to play well enough to cause the coaching staff to give at least some consideration to making him the team's No. 2 quarterback.

After his performance in this game, he might be fortunate that Josh Dobbs suffered a toe injury in the fourth quarter and had to leave, as that injury allowed Haskins to somewhat salvage his evening with a late touchdown drive in the closing seconds of a 34-9 loss at Bank of America Stadium.

Haskins finished 9 of 16 for 108 yards with one touchdown and one interception. But prior to the final drive, he was 5 of 12 for 48 yards and an interception despite playing into the third quarter.

"It's a tough one," said Haskins. "I wanted to do better. We wanted to do better. We'll watch the film as a team and try to prepare and get better."

They won't like what they see.

Carolina played most of its starters through the first half and, though the Steelers held some key starters out, Haskins still was working with left tackle Chuks Okorafor, left guard Kevin Dotson and center Kendrick Green along with wide receivers Chase Claypool and James Washington, tight ends Eric Ebron and Pat Freiermuth and running back Benny Snell.

There were enough for things to look better than they did.

"Just really disappointed in our performance," said Mike Tomlin. "I was excited about the opportunity for the guys, especially given Carolina was playing a lot of their regulars. I thought it would be a great platform for them to display varsity skills and succinctly we didn't. We didn't take care of the ball. We didn't win possession downs on offense."

Even when Haskins had an opportunity to convert a third down, he instead checked down, as he did on the Steelers' second series to Ray-Ray McCloud on third-and-7 for a 2-yard gain:

It's a clear out to that side, but Haskins didn't even look at the other three receivers, all of whom had actually run past the sticks.

On the Steelers' next possession after the Panthers had kicked a field goal to go up 3-0, Haskins rolled to his right and tried to sneak a pass to the flat to fullback Derek Watt. The pass was behind Watt and well above his head, tipping off the one hand Watt did get on the ball and into the waiting arms of linebacker Brian Burns:

Haskins had Ebron running open 10 yards behind Watt, but chose the safer pass, only to misfire.

The defense had stopped the Panthers on fourth-and-2 from the 20 on their first possession and then got a third-and-2 stop on the next possession to force a field goal. It even got a stop despite the Panthers taking over at the Pittsburgh 25, as Jamir Jones had a first-down sack -- giving him a team-best 2.5 in this preseason -- forcing Carolina to settle for a 49-yard field goal attempt that was missed by Joey Slye.

"I thought the defense started strong, but as fatigue set in because we couldn't maintain possession of it, there were mental lapses, there were physical lapses as fatigue set in with them," Tomlin said. "All in all, it was a junior varsity performance. We accept that. We understand what that means."

On the ensuing possession, one play after finally making a big completion with a downfield throw -- an 18-yard completion to Claypool -- Haskins dropped a shotgun snap from Green, falling on it to take a 5-yard loss and killing that drive.

It wasn't a bad snap. Haskins simply mishandled it:

It was that kind of night for the Steelers as a whole.

"Like the rest of us, I didn't think it was enough varsity work from him," said Tomlin, referring to Haskins but also clearly upset despite his team finishing the preseason 3-1 and making it through without any major injuries. "It wasn't the type of performance he wanted, or we wanted. But such is life."

All eyes had been on Haskins coming into this game. The 2019 first-round pick of Washington had been guaranteed of nothing coming into this training camp after the Steelers signed him in January following his release. His previous play likely assured him a roster spot when the Steelers cut down to 53 players by 4 p.m. Tuesday.

The challenge to Mason Rudolph as the No. 2 quarterback, however, proved too much.

"I thought I did a great job showing that I'm coachable and wanting to learn and to get better," Haskins said of a preseason in which he completed 37 of 58 passes for 378 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. "I was just trying to put things on film that showcase what I can do. The first three games were something I was proud of. How we started tonight is something I wanted better. The best thing I can hope is that what I showed throughout the first three games and training camp show how much I've improved."

It should be enough to get him a roster spot. But there weren't many others won and way more lost in this game, as the Steelers will now begin preparing for their season opener Sept. 12 at Buffalo.

"We also understand where we are in this journey collectively," said Tomlin. "I'm appreciative of their efforts not only tonight, but throughout this process. Now we begin the decision-making time. I'm sure we'll get started with that when we get back."

TRENDING UP

Mason Rudolph, quarterback -- If there was a player who won by not playing in this game, it was Rudolph. Rudolph had played against starters earlier in this preseason in Philadelphia, and while the results weren't great, they were certainly better than what Haskins put up Friday night. Rudolph was No. 2 going into this game. He exits it with the No. 2 spot secured.

Jamir Jones, linebacker -- Jones had four tackles, including one for a loss, and a sack while hitting the quarterback twice and adding three tackles on special teams, as well. He went from a player who was on the outside looking in to being one it would be difficult to keep off this roster. Not only did he had 2.5 sacks in this preseason, he recorded a team-best nine quarterback hits. 

Christian Kuntz, long-snapper -- Incumbent long-snapper Kameron Canaday was on the field for warm ups but left with an illness, leaving Kuntz to do all of the snapping in this game. Kuntz not only handled those duties, he also had a solo tackle and an assist covering punts. Is that enough to unseat Canaday? We'll see.

Benny Snell, running back -- Snell saw his first action of the preseason and was OK, not great. But he did rip off a 17-yard run in the second quarter that was about the most varsity looking thing for the Steelers offensively in that half. He finished with eight carries for 28 yards and one catch for 4 yards.

James Pierre, cornerback -- Pierre was fine, recording four tackles, including one for a loss when he blew up a wide receiver screen by slipping a blocker. But this was more about what the other corners -- particularly in the slot -- weren't doing. Tre Norwood started in the slot, moving in from his free safety spot -- and wasn't good. And Shakur Brown, who handled that spot for most of the second half, didn't stand out, either. Cam Sutton didn't play, but it appears he'll move to the slot on passing downs and Pierre will get an opportunity to play outside. He's earned it.

Isaiah Buggs, defensive lineman -- He started this game on the nose and was a factor, finishing with three tackles and pressuring Carolina quarterback Sam Darnold. In fact, Chris Wormley, Henry Mondeaux and even Cassius Marsh, who also started up front along with Jones, all played reasonably well. They just didn't have much help from the offense and spent too much time on the field.

TRENDING DOWN

Robert Spillane, linebacker -- Is it now a choice for the Steelers between Spillane and Marcus Allen? If so, Spillane could be in trouble, though it doesn't hurt his cause that Allen left this game with a hamstring injury. But Spillane was again a step slow in coverage, as has been the case throughout his tenure. He had five tackles, including one for a loss, but he's got a target on his back in coverage.

Jordan Berry, punter -- Berry likely needed a knockout blow to hold off rookie Pressley Harvin, and he didn't get it in this game. Both got four punts each and Berry averaged 43.8 yards per kick and had one kick downed inside the 20. Harvin averaged 42.3 yards and also had a kick downed inside the 20.

"I thought they represented themselves solidly tonight and, largely, it's been a really competitive thing throughout this process," said Tomlin. "I'm appreciative of their efforts. They've both been varsity."

Harvin averaged 44.7 yards per punt in the preseason. Berry was at 43.9. This was close, but the tie probably goes to the cheaper guy, and that's Harvin.

Mathew Sexton, wide receiver -- Sexton had an opportunity to unseat Ray-Ray McCloud as this team's punt returner and bobbled it away. He muffed two punts, one of which he recovered, another the Panthers fell on to set up a touchdown.

McCloud wasn't good, either, dropping one pass from Haskins and failing to keep his feet in bounds on another throw. Those two throws in the first half were probably Haskins' two best of the game. And McCloud could make them count. But he did bounce back in the fourth quarter and caught a touchdown pass. And unless Tomlin wants to put Diontae Johnson back in play as his punt returner, McCloud could be that guy.

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