Steelers to start Dwayne Haskins Friday vs. Panthers

The Pittsburgh Steelers know that two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and backup Mason Rudolph will be on the depth chart for the regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 12, so head coach Mike Tomlin is giving a 2019 first-round draft pick an opportunity to start in Friday's preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers. 

According to Brooke Pryor of ESPN, Dwayne Haskins will be Pittsburgh's temporary QB1 ahead of Josh Dobbs on Friday. 

"I'm just interested in seeing him play more," Tomlin said of Haskins, who famously flamed out in less than two full seasons with the Washington Football Team before Pittsburgh took a flier on him this past January. "This process is fair in that everybody gets an opportunity to show their skill set and we work hard to get to know them. He's new to us, and so the additional reps and exposure is good for him and for us to get to know him." 

Back on Aug. 12, Haskins completed 16-of-22 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown while rallying the Steelers from behind for a win at the Philadelphia Eagles. He connected on 4-of-7 attempts for 56 yards in limited play against the Detroit Lions this past Saturday. 

Per Pryor, Carolina is expected to play its first-string defense against Haskins and company on Friday.