6 Steelers whose stock plummeted after abysmal loss to Panthers
By Tommy Jaggi
Steelers QB Dwayne Haskins
Not even the Dwayne Haskins Fan Club could spin a narrative that he performed okay against the Panthers in the preseason finale. With Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph both getting the night off, this was Haskins’ chance to shine as he would go on to earn roughly three quarters of play.
Unfortunately, the results were not only less than desirable; they were embarrassing. The former first-round pick missed routine throws and checked far too many passes down underneath. I can recall at least two instances off the top of my head in the first quarter alone that Haskins threw well short of the sticks on third and manageable.
By Pro Football Focus’s count, Haskins had compiled just 29 passing yards entering the fourth quarter. If not for one last-ditch effort to salvage his numbers in the box score as time was running out, this would have been one of the worst statistical games I had ever seen.
Mike Tomlin expressed afterward that it wasn’t the performance he wanted from Haskins, and there should be no question asked as to why. It’s only the preseason, but Haskins looked awful in this contest.