Offensive line starters to get work

The Steelers will start quarterback Dwayne Haskins in Friday night’s final preseason game in Carolina, but rookie running back Najee Harris will be among the many starters who will not play for the Steelers.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph will not play against the Panthers, leaving Haskins and Josh Dobbs to split the duties.

Tomlin said the Panthers are expected to play many of their regulars, allowing him to get a better look against good competition for Haskins.

“I’m excited about giving him an opportunity and maybe see some reps against Carolina’s first group,” Tomlin said Wednesday morning before practice. “I’m just interested in seeing him play more. He’s new to us so the additional reps are good for him and for us to get to know him.”

Tomlin said before the Hall of Fame game he intended to use Harris, the Steelers’ No. 1 draft choice, in every preseason game. But he has changed his mind and will not use him in Carolina. Benny Snell, who has played sparingly in the preseason because of injury, will start.

“It’s an opportunity for him to do the things that feature runners do and prove his health and things of that nature,” Tomlin said.

However, Tomlin did indicate that most of his starters on the offensive line will play because they have had little time to work together as a group because of injuries. All five starters played together for the first time in Saturday’s victory against the Detroit Lions.

“It’s another opportunity for our offensive line to gain cohesion,” Tomlin said. “Many of those guys will play.”

Tomlin would not confirm if veterans such as new inside linebacker Joe Schobert or backup outside linebacker Melvin Ingram will play against the Panthers.

But he did say rookie Tre Norwood will get a look at nickel back after spending most of the preseason at safety.

Using Norwood, a seventhround draft choice, in the slot has been part of the team’s plan all along and is not related to the release of Antoine Brooks Jr., Tomlin said. Brooks was waived injured Tuesday.

“We won’t play a lot of our regulars. … We’ll move them out of the way to provide more snaps for others,” Tomlin said. “I understand Carolina will play their regulars, so there will be no speculation. Those guys will get an opportunity to pit their skills and preparedness and techniques against varsity.”