CHARLOTTE
Coach John Fox of the Carolina Panthers, determined to avoid injuries, couldn't have been more conservative deciding not to play any of his starters in the final preseason game Thursday night in Pittsburgh.
But Fox had backup quarterback Matt Moore still in the game late in the third quarter behind a suspect backup offensive line -- until Moore was carted to the locker room after being sacked by unblocked safety Anthony Smith.
While a team spokesman said yesterday that tests showed no broken bones or damaged ligaments in Moore's injured left leg, his uncertain status for the season opener on Sept. 7 at San Diego could change how the Panthers approach shedding 21 players by this afternoon.
Late yesterday, the Panthers obtained veteran quarterback Josh McCown from the Miami Dolphins for a late-round draft pick in 2009.
Moore, who started late last season as an undrafted rookie, was fortunate he didn't suffer a more serious injury.
"Your heart had to be in your mouth for Matt," Delhomme said. "You never want to see something like that."
With Delhomme watching the entire 19-16 loss while wearing a baseball cap, Moore started and played nearly three full quarters, even as the game got sloppy and the Panthers changed out second-teamers for third-stringers. Moore completed 15 of 27 passes for 164 yards and two interceptions and didn't lead the Panthers to a touchdown in the entire preseason.
Third-stringer Brett Basanez fared better playing the fourth quarter, completing 6 of 11 passes for 106 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown pass to Chris Hannon.
But now for Basanez, Moore, and Hannon on the bubble, it's a nervous time as the Panthers decide on the 53-man roster.
"It's real tough. You try to just block it out, but it's coming," Hannon said. "They're going to have phone calls. You're just nervous. For 48 hours you're nervous. Did I do enough? Did I do this? It's nerve-wracking.
"I'm going to try to take my kids to the park, take my mind off of it."
With Steve Smith to be placed on the reserve-suspended list as he begins his two-game ban for punching Ken Lucas in practice, the Panthers will cut one less player. Still, that means more than a quarter of the roster will be sent packing.
The Panthers face several key decisions. Samie Parker, signed on Tuesday in hopes he could shore up the return game, returned five kickoffs Thursday for an average of 19 yards and three punts for 6 yards. The Panthers could be scanning the waiver wire again late today with Ryne Robinson still sidelined with a knee injury.
There are plenty of offensive and defensive linemen on the bubble and the Panthers must decide whether to keep Rhys Lloyd as a kickoff specialist.
If they do, they'll have to take a roster spot from another position.
It was thought quarterback could be that position, but Moore's left leg injury during the late third-quarter sloppiness last night could change that.
"I think they have some really tough decisions to make," tackle Jordan Gross said.
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