QUARTERBACKS

Derek Anderson wasn’t sharp (8/14, 98 yards), but his lack of sleep was a good excuse; had a scare when he had his hand rolled up on while chasing an errant snap, but X-rays came back negative … Joe Webb again showed why he’s worth keeping around, connecting on eight of his 11 attempts for 116 yards.

RUNNING BACKS

DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart were held out … Fozzy Whittaker was a workhorse and likely sealed up a spot on the roster come Saturday with a touchdown and 91 yards on 23 carries; Whittaker’s previous high in carries as a pro came with the Chargers when he had 14 on 8/8/13; his most carries in college was on 10/17/09 when he had 18 for Texas against Oklahoma … fullback Michael Zordich did not look good while getting his first carries since he was at Penn State; he lost four yards on four attempts.

RECEIVERS

Kelvin Benjamin seemed slightly disengaged, but the rookie still wound up with four receptions for 56 yards; he played well into the second quarter, which was a risky choice by head coach Ron Rivera … Brenton Bersin had two receptions for the third straight game … Jason Avant and Jerricho Cotchery each caught one pass … Philly Brown showed an ability to stretch the field, but he fell down inside the 5-yard line after a 53-yard catch on the Panthers only scoring drive; the rookie finished with 68 yards on three receptions.

TIGHT END

With Greg Olsen back in Charlotte, Ed Dickson and Brandon Williams each had two receptions.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Left tackle Byron Bell had a second straight so-so game on a night that was supposed to help build up his confidence … backup tackle Garry Williams twisted an ankle late in the second quarter, but it appeared he went back into the game after getting a fresh tape job … center Ryan Kalil got the night off, and was replaced in the starting lineup by Fernando Velasco … Brian Folkerts was in at center for the botched snap to Anderson.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Starters Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy didn’t play, but this group still had five of the Panthers’ six sacks … after two games without recording a tackle, end Kony Ealy had a pair of sacks and three tackles … end Wes Horton had a sack and forced a fumble … Kawann Short and Casey Walker each had first-half sacks.

LINEBACKERS

Starters Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis were held out … Jason Williams was all over the field, doing more than his four tackles on the box score indicate … D.J. Smith, who should make the final roster, only had one tackle while playing plenty of snaps … on consecutive plays, A.J. Klein made a one-armed tackle, and then missed a tackle in the Pittsburgh backfield … Chase Blackburn looked good after returning from a back injury, making four tackles in limited work.

CORNERBACKS

Starters Antoine Cason and Melvin White each played the opening series … Bené Benwikere was again the No. 1 nickel corner … James Dockery was active, but should have added at least one interception to his five tackles … undrafted rookie Carrington Byndom may have locked up a practice squad spot with a handful of nice plays.

SAFETIES

Roman Harper made his preseason debut, and played the first series along with fellow starter Thomas DeCoud … Charles Godfrey, who had been playing cornerback all summer until this week, returned to his former position for the second series … Anderson Russell was better than he had been his previous two games, racking up six tackles and a sack.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Philly Brown didn’t do much as a punt returner, and he had to recover his brief fumble in the first half … kicker Graham Gano uncharacteristically missed a 39-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter … punter Brad Nortman averaged 41.4 yards on five punts, including a long of 58 yards.

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