CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The fourth NFL preseason game may seem meaningless to those deprived of watching stars such as Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, but it's not to players on the bubble.
Carolina coach Ron Rivera and general manager Dave Gettleman repeatedly have said this week that Thursday night's game against Pittsburgh is very important in terms of getting the final spots on the 53-man roster right.
You won't see Newton or backup Derek Anderson. It's not worth the risk of Newton getting injured and Anderson getting reinjured after missing practice all week with an unspecified "soreness.