It doesn’t look like the Pittsburgh Steelers will facing Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in the preseason finale Thursday night at Heinz Field after all.
According to Steve Reed of the Associated Press, Newton has a hairline fracture in his ribs and thus won’t be playing against the Steelers this week. Panthers head coach Ron Rivera thinks Newton will play in the Panthers regular-season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, however, according to Reed.
Breaking: Cam Newton has hairline fracture in his ribs. Won't play this week. Rivera thinks Newton will play in the season opener.
— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) August 24, 2014
With Newton now likely to sit Thursday night, Panthers backup quarterback Derek Anderson will likely start against the Steelers. So far in the three games that he has played during the preseason, Anderson is 14-of-22 passing for 234 and two touchdowns.
The Steelers will play the Panthers on the road this season as the two teams will square off in Week 3.
