CHARLOTTE — Even though it was the final preseason game, it was a chance to start for rookie outside linebacker Princely Umanmielen.

So the fact that he didn't get to play as long as he hoped was hard for him.

The third-rounder left the game in the first half with a shoulder injury and did not return.

"I was thinking that with me starting this game, I was going to actually be able to unleash and show out a little bit," Umanmielen said. "So I was a little frustrated I wasn't able to finish it."

Of course, he said he felt well enough that any absence might not be a long one. He said he hurt himself during safety Lathan Ransom's interception return, when he turned to block mammoth Steelers tight end Darnell Washington (6-7, 264).

"I'm doing pretty good, a little nicked up, but I should be right," he said, as he pulled a sweatshirt on without much of a wince. "On the interception that Lathan had, I had turned around, seen Darnell Washington, ducked my shoulder into him, tried to block his big a--, and on the impact is where it happened."

Umanmielen said he had X-rays, "and everything was intact," and head coach Dave Canales said they would monitor the situation in the coming days.

"We're going to basically monitor that, tonight, monitor it tomorrow, just kind of see how it presents," Canales said. "Right now, still sore enough, couldn't get the strength back tonight to get him back out there.

"So you know this is a guy that's going to be with us, so we just wanted to be smart about that."

The Panthers were already without their other rookie pass rusher, as Nic Scourton remains inactive after his collapsed lung in Houston.

Canales offered a few other updates on injuries, including the good news that left guard Damien Lewis (shoulder) was on track to play in the regular season opener against Jacksonville in two weeks.

Lewis hasn't practiced since the joint workout with the Browns prior to the first preseason game.

"Damien's kind of like day to day," Canales said. "He's making huge strides, we're getting the strength back where we want it to be.

"I feel really confident Damien will be with us for the first game, but again, we have to get him back out there, expose him to more physical play and get him back to football to be able to make that decision."

The Panthers held wide receiver Brycen Tremayne out with what Canales termed "general body soreness."

"Felt good about the work that we saw him have in the first two weeks," Canales said. "And then bounced back this week for really just kind of a grinder practice two days ago, and we shut him down in the middle of that practice. We just didn't feel good about being able to turn him back around that quickly to get him out there in the game."

Tremayne, who is competing for a job, brings the kind of special teams ability they value.

"He's got a good chance," Canales said when asked about Tremayne making the roster. "And for Brycen to really show what he can do offensively and then on special teams as well, he really made a statement for himself on this team. So something that we weigh heavily, and so, just excited to have the conversation to see how that all plays out."