The third preseason game will be the final opportunity to see extended minutes from the starters before the regular season starts on Sept. 5 in Denver. The offense has struggled in its first two preseason outings, notching just six first downs in three quarters of work. Quarterback Joe Flacco and the group will look to fix some of the inconsistencies and have a good showing before their focus shifts to Denver.

The rookie receiver has attracted some attention during the preseason, as he's put up touchdowns in both of the first two games. Those touchdowns have come late in games, when Mellette is going up against second- and third-team defenders. This week the Ravens could give the seventh-round pick some snaps with Flacco and the first-team offense, which they have done during the week of practice. A strong showing against Carolina by Mellette could prove he belongs in the offense during the regular season.

The two veteran signings now have more than a week of practice under their belts, and they will get more snaps against the Panthers. Stokley played just seven snaps last week against Atlanta and Clark was a scratch. Now they are both expected to get reps with the starters, as the Ravens want to get the veteran targets some time with Flacco. Clark and Stokley have quickly picked up the offense, and now they have to translate that to the field.

Coming into training camp, Tandon Doss, David Reed, LaQuan Williams and Tommy Streeter were all vying for reps with the first team. None of them have clearly separated themselves from the pack, and with the first round of cuts looming, the receivers in this group will be looking to make plays. The Ravens already started the process of trimming down by dealing receiver David Reed to Indianapolis on Monday. In addition to the young wideouts, veteran Jacoby Jones has been quiet in the preseason, and he's still looking to solidify himself as the starting No. 2 receiver opposite Torrey Smith.

The third-year cornerback had a tough game last week against the Atlanta Falcons, as wide receiver Julio Jones caught three passes for 55 yards and a touchdown in Smith's direction. Defensive Coordinator Dean Pees acknowledged this week that it wasn't Smith's best performance, but that the team has confidence in the former first-round pick. He'll get another chance to prove himself this week against Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and an explosive offense.

The first-round pick has been in a position battle with James Ihedgibo throughout training camp, and the veteran appears to have the edge in the competition. Elam has played well during the preseason, and the Ravens have given him some snaps with the first-team offense. A good showing from Elam with the starters against the Panthers could help the rookie's case to crack the starting lineup for the start of the season.

The first team had an off night against the run last week against the Falcons. Head Coach John Harbaugh said that the defense got away from its fundamentals, which opened holes for Atlanta's running game. The front seven is considered a strength of the Ravens, and the starting group wants to put forth a strong showing in its final outing of significant minutes in the preseason.

Webb and Yanda, two of the Ravens' best players, have yet to take the field during the preseason. Webb is coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and Yanda had offseason shoulder surgery. The Ravens have expressed interest in playing both of them this week so they can get at least some game reps before the start of the regular season. The expectation is for both of them to return to their old form, and this could be the first chance to see them in action.

The Ravens brought in the veteran tight end after the hip injury to Dennis Pitta early in training camp. Shiancoe has been up-and-down since joining the Ravens, and he's competing to make the team. The addition of Dallas Clark crowded the tight end group and created more competition for Shiancoe's roster spot, and he could need a strong finish to the preseason to make the 53-man squad.

The Ravens gave veteran A.Q. Shipley the start last week, and he struggled with two penalties in the first half. Gradkowski has worked with the starting offense during the week and appears to be in line to start against Carolina. If Gradkowski gets the start and has a solid performance, then he would likely solidify himself as the starting center heading into the season.