The Panthers rested all of their starters in Thursday’s exhibition finale against Pittsburgh rather than risk injury before the games count.
The second-teamers didn’t get that luxury.
Rookie wideout Curtis Samuel was one of three players who left the Steelers’ 17-14 victory with injuries, when he limped into the locker room in the second half with a sprained ankle.
But Samuel said the injury isn’t serious and he expects to be ready for the Sept. 10 opener at San Francisco.
“It’s nothing major, nothing to worry about,” he said.
Samuel, who missed most of training camp with a hamstring injury, said after the game that he twisted his ankle when a Pittsburgh defender fell on it after he caught a screen pass on the second play of the third quarter.