On Sunday night the Pittsburgh Steelers will visit the Carolina Panthers for the sixth matchup between these two teams. The Panthers will be without defensive end Greg Hardy, who was placed on the exempt list, and could be without a couple others.
The Steelers are coming off 10 days of rest after getting thrashed by the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football in Week 2. Pittsburgh was a bit banged up and had a shortened week, but their injury report is much smaller for Week 3. However, they'll still be without rookie running back/wide receiver Dri Archer, who has yet to play this season.
Starting guard Ramon Foster is questionable with an ankle injury and was limited in practice all week. That's the only issue the Steelers have coming into tonight's game. It looks like they'll be getting back wide receiver Lance Moore (probable), who missed Week 2 in Baltimore due to a groin injury. Turnovers plagued the Steelers in their 26-6 loss against the Ravens, with Ben Roethlisberger throwing an interception and tight end Heath Miller and wide receiver Justin Brown each losing a fumble. However, they're assignment doesn't get any easier this week as they'll face the Panthers defense, which is one of the best in the league.
For Carolina, their injury report looks a bit troubling. Wide receivers Jerricho Cotchery (thigh) and Jason Avant (thigh) are listed as questionable. Cotchery did not participate in practice this week and Avant was limited, which isn't good news for an already shaky wide receiving corps. Starting running back DeAngelo Williams was also limited in practice this week and is questionable with a thigh injury. If Williams misses tonight's game, the only reliable back they'll have is Jonathan Stewart, because Fozzy Whittaker, the third back on the depth chart, is doubtful with a thigh injury of his own.
The Panthers (2-0) look to continue their success that has been fueled by their defense. They held the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to 14 points in Week 1 and the Detroit Lions to just seven points last week. On the other hand, Pittsburgh looks to get the ball rolling after a scare against the Cleveland Browns in Week 1 and an embarrassing loss in Baltimore last week.
Tune into NBC at 8:00 p.m. for coverage of tonight's game.
