Panthers show diverse plans for rookie Edwards

Carolina Panthers rookie Armanti Edwards looked completely out of place trying to returning 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 version of the wildcat: the ''Mountaineer.''

''Brought back old times,'' the former Appalachian State Mountaineers 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 history to throw for over 10,000 yards and rush for more than 4,000.

''I think it's something we wanted to take a look at,'' coach John Fox said. ''It's an area that he's done before in the past and we wanted to take a peek at a few plays we put in this past week.''

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

The criticism grew when Edwards, who had never returned kicks in his life, had trouble just catching the ball in practices and lost a fumble in the preseason opener. And he didn't win many people over with his uneven performance as a receiver, a position he hadn't played since his junior year in high school.

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 should've been a first down conversion, and John Kasay kicked a 51-yard field goal on the next play for Carolina's only points.

The Panthers have used a version of the wildcat in the past with running back DeAngelo Williams and receiver Steve Smith, but have not thrown a pass out of the formation in a regular-season game.

That could change with Edwards, the two-time national player of the year in the Football Championship Subdivision who led Appalachian State to two national titles and a monumental upset of Michigan.

''We talked about it all throughout the summer, that sooner or later we were going to do a little bit of wildcat with me,'' Edwards said. ''I didn't think it would be this early.''

The good news - or maybe the bad news - is Edwards' 56.2 passer rating is better than Matt Moore's 56.1 in the preseason. Moore and most of the starters sat out Thursday's game to avoid injury.

But Edwards' versatility, combined with the news that Smith (arm) and running back Jonathan Stewart (heel) should play Week 1 at the New York Giants after sitting out the preseason, gives Carolina some offensive hope.

And 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.''

Notes: According to STATS, the Panthers are the first NFL team not to score an offensive touchdown in the preseason since at least 1997, when its records begin. Only Tampa Bay failed to score a rushing TD this preseason, while every team other than Carolina had at least one passing TD. ... The Panthers must cut 22 players on Saturday 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.