The Pittsburgh Steelers will close out their 2019 preseason Thursday night with a road game against the Carolina Panthers and you’ll now be able to watch that contest live on the NFL Network.
The NFL Network posted on Twitter Tuesday that the Steelers game versus the Panthers will be aired live starting at 7:00 p.m. EST. It’s unclear as to which team’s local feed will be used for that game, however.
The Steelers first three preseason games of 2019 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans were all shown nationally with the first two being broadcasted on the NFL Network. The Steelers third preseason game against the Titans that took place this past Sunday night was shown live on NBC.
The Steelers Thursday night game against the Panthers isn’t likely to include very many starters from either team playing. However, several of the Steelers rookie draft picks will likely see action in that contest. Rookie wide receiver Diontae Johnson, cornerback Justin Layne, running back Benny Snell Jr., tight end Zach Gentry, outside linebacker Sutton Smith, defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs, inside linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III and guard/tackle Derwin Gray will likely all play Thursday night if healthy enough to do so.
We’ll have to wait and see if the Steele decide to get rookie inside linebacker Devin Bush some early snaps in that game as he’s now poised to log significant playing time in the team’s regular season opener against the New England Patriots.
The Steelers enter their Thursday night preseason finale with a 3-0 record and will have an opportunity to go undefeated in a preseason for the first time since 1997 when they went 5-0.
