CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Mike Tomlin has only a few decisions left before he makes final cuts of his Steelers roster today, but they won't be easy.

Several young players took their last opportunity to show why Tomlin should keep them over others as the Steelers beat the Carolina Panthers, 21-10, last night.

The Steelers' first teams on offense and defense bowed out quickly after three plays and one series each. That allowed the young players, and a few veterans trying to make it, more time to operate.

Among those making smart pitches for themselves were Isaac Redman, Ryan Mundy and Arnold Harrison. Stefan Logan merely punctuated a spot he already had earned.

"I don't make decisions," Tomlin asserted. "They make the decisions by how they play."

Redman, an undrafted rookie running back, faced long odds before training camp began and still does even though he scored another touchdown, this one on a fine, twisting, 10-yard run in the first quarter. He also finished with a surge to lead them in rushing this summer. He ran 12 times last night for 79 yards to give him 145 in the preseason.

His three touchdowns led the team in the preseason and added to all those scores in live goal-line drills -- seven touchdowns in nine attempts. Yet with the Steelers' crunch at running back, Redman remains a long shot today.

"We'll see," Tomlin said. "We have some stiff competition at running back."

Then there was Logan, who already had a roster spot nailed down after the past two games. He added a cherry on the top when he returned the first punt of the game 80 yards for a touchdown. It was by far his best return of many good ones this summer.

Logan looked like a champion slalom skier, weaving in and out of would-be tacklers as if they were stationary poles. He leaned one way and then the other after his initial takeoff to the right and then down the middle. No defender had a good shot at bringing him down anywhere along the way.

That's the good news for the Steelers, who have not had a good punt-return man since Antwaan Randle El's last season in 2005. The tougher part of that equation is releasing a position player for his roster spot. The coaching staff already was trying to decide whether to rob their wide receivers of a spot or their running backs.

They would like to go with four at one position and five at the other. There are three untouchable backs -- Willie Parker, Rashard Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore. Three others were bidding for one or two spots, veteran Carey Davis (who did not play last night) and rookies Redman and Frank Summers. Four wide receivers on the team are Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Limas Sweed and Mike Wallace. If they keep five, the spot likely would go to veteran Shaun McDonald.

Summers is the odds-on favorite to make it. He started at fullback and threw a good block on the first play from offense last night, operating out of the I-formation. Mendenhall picked up 3 yards. Later in the period, Summers again set up as the fullback in the I-formation on third-and-1. Quarterback Charlie Batch handed Summers the ball, and he ground out 4 yards and a first down at the Carolina 21. Several plays later, Redman scored from 10 out for a 14-0 Steelers lead.

Another player fighting for a backup job, veteran linebacker Arnold Harrison, had a good night. After his second knee surgery in two years last season, he is trying to beat out second-year linebackers Patrick Bailey and Bruce Davis for the fourth spot on the outside.

Last night, he sacked Carolina quarterback Josh McCown, forced a fumble and recovered it at the Panthers' 34, creating a short drive to the Steelers' second touchdown and a 14-0 lead. Harrison later combined with Mundy, himself in the hunt for a roster spot, to stop running back DeAngelo Williams for no gain on fourth-and-1.

Mundy, of Woodland Hills High and West Virginia University, also had a big night as he tried to make it as a backup safety in his second year. He intercepted a pass and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter that put the Steelers ahead, 21-7. He also broke up a deep pass in the third quarter by putting a good lick on the receiver to pop the ball loose.

"Any time you run one back, that gets your attention," Tomlin said.

The Steelers' backups stopped another Carolina thrust in the second quarter. Davis put pressure on quarterback McCown at the 2, forcing a high throw into the end zone.

On the next play, fourth down, rookie Mike Goodson fumbled. It was recovered and returned 27 yards by linebacker Donovan Woods.

Four starters did not play for the Steelers last night. Linebacker James Harrison, the NFL defensive player of the year in 2008, was held out, although not injured. Andre Frazier replaced him.

Parker (hamstring) and wide receiver Santonio Holmes (back) also did not play because of minor injuries. They were replaced by Mendenhall and Sweed, respectively.

Linebacker Lawrence Timmons, who has a high ankle sprain, did not make the trip and Keyaron Fox started for him on the inside and had a first-quarter sack.

Many of those should be ready when the Steelers open the regular season Thursday against Tennessee at home.

Tomlin said all of his cuts, which do not have to be made until tomorrow, will be done today.

NOTES -- Defensive tackle Scott Paxson left in the second quarter with a concussion. Woods pulled his hamstring on his 27-yard fumble return. ... Wide receiver Dallas Baker left with a hip injury.