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Carolina Panthers rookie Armanti Edwards looked completely out of place trying to return kicks for much of the preseason. He appeared awkward and uncomfortable catching passes, too.

Edwards behind center in the shotgun? Now that's something that comes natural, and perhaps could be the needed wrinkle to jump-start the Panthers' punchless offense.

Enter Carolina's take on the wildcat: the "Mountaineer."

"Brought back old times," the former Appalachian State quarterback said after running six plays in the formation in Thursday's 19-3 loss to Pittsburgh in the preseason finale. "They put in a couple plays this week for me."

The formation, which Carolina first practiced on Monday, produced modest results. It couldn't prevent the Panthers from becoming the first NFL team in at least 14 years to not score an offensive touchdown in the preseason, according to STATS LLC.

But Thursday's brief stint in the wildcat was a glimpse as to why the Panthers gave up so much to get the speedy and athletic Edwards, the only player in NCAA Division I to throw for over 10,000 yards and rush for more than 4,000.

"It's something we wanted to take a look at," coach John Fox said.

Eyebrows were raised when the Panthers traded next year's second-round pick to New England so they could take the slight, undersized Edwards in the third-round.

The 5-foot-11, 182-pound Edwards first lined up at quarterback on the seventh play of Carolina's opening drive Thursday. Facing third-and-6 from the Pittsburgh 30, Edwards tried to run to the short side, but the second-team offensive line caved and he was stuffed for a 3-yard loss.

He was back out there in the second quarter, handing off to Josh Vaughan on two straight plays for a net 2 yards.

Edwards started a drive deep in Carolina territory in the third quarter and the left-hander rifled a 6-yard pass to rookie David Gettis on first-and-15. He tried to run on the next play, but was dropped for a 1-yard loss.

Edwards passed again in his final play in the formation on third-and-3 from the Pittsburgh 33 early in the fourth quarter. Gettis dropped what would have been a first down conversion, and John Kasay kicked a 51-yard field goal on the next play.

Edwards looked better in other areas Thursday night, too. He caught two passes for 10 yards, had a 17-yard punt return and a 22-yard kickoff return.

"It's really what he was drafted to do," Fox said. "We'll look at him on kicks, punts, even a little bit at quarterback and again at wide receiver. He gives us a lot of looks and opportunities to evaluate."

Also, the Panthers must cut 22 players today to get to 53 for the regular season.

Fox said G Duke Robinson (knee), LB Jordan Senn (ankle) and TE Jamie Petrowski (head) were injured against the Steelers.

REDSKINS: In a game in which 31 of his teammates didn't even suit up -- Albert Haynesworth went from start to finish in a 20-10 loss to Arizona on Thursday. The defensive lineman with the $100 million contract played 49 of 55 snaps on defense and was still on the field in the fourth quarter, huddling with third-stringers and no-hopers.

STEELERS: Ben Roethlisberger might not be the only Steelers quarterback out for four weeks. Byron Leftwich's strained left knee ligament could sideline him for the first month of the season, leaving the Steelers with only two healthy quarterbacks -- Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch.

PATRIOTS: Defensive lineman Damione Lewis, who started 16 games for the Panthers last season, was released.

TEXANS: kicker Kris Brown, the only player remaining from the inaugural 2002 season, was released.

BRONCOS: tailback LenDale White is out for the season after rupturing his Achilles' tendon Thursday night at Minnesota.