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GAME DAY: Update Time & Channel Watch Steelers vs. Panthers in Week 3 Preseason

Charlotte, NC – August 21, 2025

Under the bright lights of Bank of America Stadium, the Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for their final preseason chapter — a night where every snap will feel heavier than its preseason label. For players fighting for a roster spot, this game is not just another August contest. It’s the line between dream and disappointment, the last audition before the curtain rises on the regular season.

HIGHLIGHTS: Steelers vs. Panthers

Game Details

  • Matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Carolina Panthers

  • Date & Time: Thursday, August 21, 2025 — Kickoff at 7:00 p.m. ET

  • Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC

  • How to Watch & Listen

    Steelers fans in Pittsburgh can catch the action live on KDKA-TV (CBS Pittsburgh) with Bob Pompeani on play-by-play, Charlie Batch in the booth, and Missi Matthews on the sideline. Nationally, the game will also air on NFL Network. For those tuning in on the radio, the Steelers Radio Network will carry the call on WDVE-FM (102.5) and WBGG-AM (970), with Rob King and Max Starks guiding the broadcast.

    Steelers vs. Panthers highlights | Preseason Week 3

    Injury & Roster Updates

    The Steelers enter this Week 3 clash with several high-profile absences. Aaron Rodgers, D.K. Metcalf, T.J. Watt, and Cam Heyward will not take the field, as the coaching staff prioritizes health heading into the regular season.

    The biggest question under center remains with rookie quarterback Will Howard, who fractured a bone in his throwing hand earlier this month. Despite progress in rehab, he is not expected to play tonight. That leaves Mason Rudolph set to take the opening snaps, giving him one more opportunity to prove his command of the offense.

    For Mike Tomlin’s squad, this game is about more than scoreboard results. It’s a chance for young linemen, special-teams grinders, and roster hopefuls to etch their names into the coaches’ final decisions. Every block, every tackle, and every drive could decide who stays and who goes.

    Highlights from the NFL as Carolina Panthers lost 21-52 to the Pittsburgh  Steelers in Week 10

    🔥 Steelers Nation — tonight is about heart, fight, and proving who belongs in black and gold. The journey to Super Bowl LX begins with sacrifices like these, and this final preseason battle will write the last lines of August before September’s war begins.

    Steelers Sign 1,174-Tackle Former Pro Bowler to Practice Squad, Just Hours After Raiders ‘Poach’ LB Jon Rhattigan
    PITTSBURGH — October 8, 2025 — Just hours after the Las Vegas Raiders poached linebacker Jon Rhattigan from their practice squad, the Pittsburgh Steelers responded swiftly by signing Eric Kendricks—a former Pro Bowler with 1,174 career tackles—to their practice squad. The move not only offsets the immediate personnel loss but also injects a seasoned defensive leader into the heart of the black-and-gold. In his first comments, Kendricks explained his decision:“I turned down the Ravens as soon as I knew the Steelers were calling. The Raiders ‘stealing’ Rhattigan put Pittsburgh in a bind, and they showed me they value what I bring. Wearing Pittsburgh— even on the practice squad— is worth it. I believe my experience can help the front office and the team.” Kendricks (33) was a 2015 second-round pick out of UCLA, establishing his name with the Minnesota Vikings (2015–2022) before stints with the Chargers (2023) and Cowboys (2024). His peak came in 2019, when he earned First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors—reflecting a complete skill set: zone-match diagnostics, precise hook/curl drops, sharp screen recognition, and, crucially, command of the front seven with the defensive green-dot. Beyond his 1,174 tackles, Kendricks has compiled 21.5 sacks, 11 interceptions, 60 passes defended, and 3 defensive touchdowns, underscoring value that exceeds a mere rotational plug-in. Schematically, the Steelers can deploy Kendricks as an immediate stabilizer: tightening communication at the second level, serving as an on-field coordinator in high-leverage situations (third down, red zone), and contributing on special teams. If he acclimates quickly over the next few weeks, a path to gameday elevations—and potentially the 53-man roster—is very much on the table.