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Some quick thoughts after the Carolina Panthers’ 23-6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Thursday night’s preseason finale. 

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER PRESEASON INJURY

Even though more than half the Panthers’ starting lineup didn’t play Thursday, this brutal preseason managed to claim another victim.

CB Josh Norman suffered a head injury on the opening series, possibly as a result of this play:[vc_row_inner no_margin=”true”][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][gap][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_raw_html]

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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][gap][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner]While making a tackle on Steelers WR Martivis Bryant, Norman may have taken an accidental hit to the helmet from LB A.J. Klein or Shaq Thompson.

If Norman suffered a concussion, the Panthers could go into Week 1 with both starting CBs in the league’s concussion protocol. Charles Tillman still needs to be cleared after he suffered a concussion last Friday against the Patriots.

Shortly after Norman walked off the field, CB Teddy Williams exited with a groin injury. So Carolina’s corner situation could be dangerously thin heading into the regular season.

TOUGH CUTS

Coach Ron Rivera said this week that final cuts weren’t clear cut and some spots didn’t become much clearer Thursday.

Multiple receivers, tight ends and defensive linemen made plays at positions that aren’t completely set. Backup offensive linemen, linebackers and cornerbacks? Good luck figuring out what will happen there. The toughest choice may be at running back where a good one may have to go. Of the four who played in Pittsburgh:

• Fifth-round pick Cameron Artis-Payne, who was already a lock, impressed with 12-carry, 67-yard spot start.

• Jordan Todman, seemingly safe because of his special teams ability, showed his burst on a 49-yard touchdown run. It was his fourth score in a preseason finale in as many years.

• Fozzy Whittaker again saw limited carries. He picked up 14 yards on one and a total of four on a couple others.

• Fan favorite Brendan Wegher mopped up, gaining 64 yards on 17 attempts.

It’s unlikely the Panthers will find room for all four, plus Jonathan Stewart and FB Mike Tolbert, so coaches got what they were hoping for — at least one very tough call.

FIRST-ROUND HITTER

A week after he made a couple big-boy tackles against the Patriots, LB Shaq Thompson uncorked this block during a punt return:[vc_row_inner no_margin=”true”][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][gap][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_raw_html]

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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][gap][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner]DOES IT MATTER?

The Panthers wrapped up the preseason 3-1, the sixth time they’ve finished the exhibition schedule above .500.

Who knows what that means, though.

Of the five previous times the Panthers went above .500 in the preseason, they made the postseason twice (’03, ’13). Yet the Panthers missed the playoffs in all seven seasons that followed a preseason record that fell below .500.

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