Steelers vs. Panthers: Players to watch in Preseason Week 3

The NFL Preseason continues for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Carolina Panthers Thursday night in Week 3, and both teams’ approach to this game couldn’t be more different. The Panthers have decided to rest the vast majority of their starters. Meanwhile, the Steelers are leaving the door open for the vast majority, if not all, of their starting players to get their first preseason action of the year.

But that doesn’t mean there won’t be players to watch for the black-and-gold. Below I outline players I’m excited to see, and a brief summation as to why they make the list.

Here are my players to watch in Preseason Week 3:

Offense

Lew Nichols

Throughout this article you’ll notice the players I have listed will be those players who could be playing for their NFL lives in some capacity. Whether it’s making the 53-man roster, or making the practice squad. Either way, Nichols is one of those guys, and he has had the most impressive preseason of the bunch. Can he keep it going? Hopefully he gets some time against better competition to truly tell.

Trey Sermon

Like Nichols, Sermon is a veteran just trying to find a home. I have a feeling the Steelers coaching staff will give him plenty of opportunities to prove his worth, and it will be up to him to get the job done.

Offensive Line

This will be one of the few position groups who will likely still see some extended playing time, and by extended playing time I am talking about 2-3 drives. The offensive line has done a good job in pass protection, but getting a little push in the run game would be great to see in the last exhibition game of the year.

Brandon Johnson

The Steelers will be looking to keep a receiver or two on their practice squad, and with Roc Taylor out of the picture Brandon Johnson has moved to the front of the group. He is a big-bodied receiver who, like all the other players mentioned, will get a lot of run in this game Thursday night. A good outing could solidify his spot within the organization.

Max Hurleman

Did Hurleman let his opportunity with the Steelers slip through his fingers, both figuratively and literally? It’s possible, but he is a player who has put some solid stuff on film in Preseason Weeks 1 and 2. I don’t think one missed pass should cement his spot on the cut list. Unfortunately for the Notre Dame product, he’ll not just need a good game on Thursday, but for others to maybe have a down game if he has a shot at making the roster. It’s an uphill battle, but you never know.

Defense

Jack Sawyer

Sawyer has been getting a lot of attention from all the “film room gurus” this week, and for all the wrong reasons. The guy just can’t get home as a pass rusher. What better time to gain some confidence then by destroying some Carolina Panthers back-ups? Sawyer is capable, but he’ll have to learn in the NFL you can’t just hustle your way to sacks. T.J. Watt does that plenty, but his repertoire of moves is far greater, and better, than Sawyer. He’ll learn, but it will be something to watch.

Beanie Bishop

There was a spirited debate on the Pump Your Brakes podcast about Bishop’s potential spot on the 53-man roster. Some feel he has solidified his place with the team after his rookie season, others don’t. I fall into the latter category, and it will come down to who can be the better all-around player. Bishop is opportunistic, but can he tackle and cover to the point where he isn’t a liability?

Brandin Echols

The man who could take his spot away from him would be Brandin Echols. Echols has had a great camp and a solid preseason. If he keeps this trend going into the regular season there is no doubt he makes the 53-man roster. The only question is where he plays in specific sub packages.

Logan Lee

Logan Lee has transformed himself this offseason and is much bigger and stronger in 2025, yet he hasn’t been noticed much at all in the preseason. The only attention which has truly been given him was when he filled in as the emergency long snapper last week when Christian Kuntz was injured in the early portions of the game. Nonetheless, that simple fact provides an extra level of versatility, and boosts his odds of making the team. I think I speak for most when I suggest I’d love to see him be more disruptive along the defensive line.

Isaiahh Loudermilk

Loudermilk was noticeable in Week 1, sometimes for the wrong reasons, and was rather mundane in Week 2. The battle along the defensive line rages on, and we’ll see where Loudermilk finishes the preseason. Take a look at how much, and when, he plays to be a strong indicator of his chances of making the team. If Loudermilk is on the field in the 4th quarter for mop-up duty, that tells you all you need to know.

Special Teams

Punter Battle

There were some, myself included, who never truly saw this as a battle. Instead, it was just trying to pump up Corliss Waitman to see if he could be traded for some draft compensation. That was then. Now? I have a feeling this battle is far closer than people believe. This might come down to the wire, and by wire I mean Preseason Week 3.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the New York Jets in Week 1 of the NFL Regular Season.