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Panthers No. 2 QB decision looms. Here’s where Taylor Heinicke, Garrett Gilbert stand.

There’s little time left before Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera and his staff have to make a decision:

Will Garrett Gilbert or Taylor Heinicke be the No. 2 quarterback behind Cam Newton this season?

Rivera told reporters Tuesday that Heinicke would start Thursday’s final preseason game against the Steelers, with Gilbert entering the game in the second quarter. And that — after all the sweltering Spartanburg practices and a full preseason slate — will be both players’ final chance to prove they deserve the job.

With most of a team’s starters sitting for the final preseason game, typically the quarterback who begins that game is assumed to have the No.