Steelers drop exhibition finale to Carolina

The loss dropped the Steelers to 1-3 in preseason play.

Landry Jones started at quarterback for the Steelers and went 4 of 5 for 29 yards in the three series that he played.

Bryn Renner replaced Jones with 3:39 left in the first half and played the rest of the game, completing 5 of 11 passes for 39 yards.

Carolina third-string quarterback Joe Webb played the entire game for the Panthers, completing 17 of 29 passes for 200 yards.

Daryl Richardson scored the lone points for the Steelers in the fourth quarter with a one yard run up the middle. Pittsburgh failed to convert the two-point conversion attempt as Renner was sacked.

Richardson led the Steelers in rushing attempts and yards, with nine attempts for 45 yards.

All of Carolina’s point were scored by kicker Graham Gano: one field goal in the first quarter, three field goals in the second quarter, and a field goal in each of the third and fourth quarters. Gano converted six of his seven field goal attempts on the evening.

Steelers wide receiver Eli Rogers led the Steelers in receptions and yards with three receptions for 20 yards.

Brenton Bersin led Carolina in receiving yards, with six receptions for 89 yards, while Harrisburg native Cameron Artis-Payne led the Panthers in rushing, with 18 attempts for 77 yards.

Offensively, Carolina out-possessed Pittsburgh by roughly 18 minutes.

The Steelers will start the regular season next week against the Redskins at FedEx Field on Sept. 12. Kickoff is set for 7:10.