The Panthers probably have to keep third quarterback Joe Webb on the roster, given the uncertain status of starter Cam Newton and his sore ankle and sore ribs.
But Webb is going to get plenty of reps this week to try to prove he belongs, since he might be the only quarterback they have Thursday night.
Via Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review, Webb might be the only quarterback in uniform for the Panthers in Pittsburgh.
With Newton aching with a hairline fracture to his ribs, backup Derek Anderson awaiting the birth of a child (his wife was due Saturday) and fourth-stringer Matt Blanchard out with a concussion, Webb is the last man standing.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera joked that he had an emergency QB lined up, but he didn’t want to reveal the top-secret plan.
“I don’t want to tell you guys because at the end of the day if these guys are valuable like that, and you put them out there, somebody may scoop them up,” Rivera said.
Of course, the Panthers could always go back to the future, and play without a quarterback. They did that in 2006, when DeAngelo Williams brought the Wildcat to the NFL. And come to think of it, they did that for most of 2010 as well.