Carolina Panthers to stay with PJ Walker at QB vs. Falcons

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — PJ Walker will stay the beginning quarterback for the Carolina Panthers for Thursday night time’s recreation towards the Atlanta Falcons regardless of scuffling with what he known as “boneheaded errors” within the first half of Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Baker Mayfield will stay the backup.

Interim coach Steve Wilks made the announcement Monday afternoon, hours after the crew activated quarterback Sam Darnold to the 53-man roster and fewer than 24 hours after a 42-21 loss at Cincinnati through which Walker was benched at halftime with Carolina trailing 35-0.

“I might bench everyone if we go off unhealthy video games,” Wilks mentioned. “We’ll rally behind P.J. and undoubtedly give him the issues he wants from a game-plan standpoint so he can execute.”

Mayfield will stay the backup, as he has been the final three weeks since recovering from a excessive ankle sprain in a Week 5 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Wilks declined to invest on what the choice to stay with Walker means long-term for Mayfield, the highest decide of the 2018 draft acquired in a July commerce with the Cleveland Browns after Cleveland traded for Deshaun Watson.

“Proper now, we have now no ambitions or conversations about making an attempt to maneuver anybody,” Wilks mentioned.

The crew wish to get one other take a look at Darnold this season as he and Mayfield are within the last 12 months of their rookie contracts. Darnold misplaced the beginning job to Mayfield in coaching camp after an open competitors, then suffered a excessive ankle sprain within the last preseason recreation that landed him on injured reserve.

However the choice to begin Walker Thursday over Mayfield, who began 1-4, elevated the chance the crew may launch Mayfield within the coming weeks.

Situations of the commerce might determine into that. The Panthers would owe Cleveland a 2024 fourth-round decide if Mayfield performs 70 p.c of the offensive snaps, a fifth-rounder if he performs fewer. He at present has performed 61.05 p.c.

To these suggesting the choice to stay with Walker so Carolina (2-7) can get the highest decide of the 2023 draft to pick out a franchise quarterback, Wilks mentioned, “I’d say belief the method. Belief my decision-making. That is what I’d inform them. All of us have unhealthy video games. P.J. wasn’t the one one.”

Wilks mentioned the quick week and Walker’s efficiency in a 37-34 time beyond regulation loss to Atlanta two video games in the past performed a think about his choice. Walker accomplished 19 of 36 go makes an attempt for 316 yards and a landing, a 62-yarder to tie the sport at 34-34 with 12 seconds left in regulation at Mercedes Benz Stadium.

Walker’s efficiency that recreation did not carry over into the primary half towards the Bengals. He accomplished solely 3 of 10 go makes an attempt for 9 yards with two interceptions that gave him a 0.0 passer score.

Within the second half, Mayfield accomplished 16 of 20 go makes an attempt for 155 yards and two touchdowns, however that did not get him the nod over Walker towards an Atlanta crew tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers atop the NFC South at 4-5.

Mayfield’s 83.2 Whole QBR towards the Bengals was by far his finest effort of the season. He had a 15.3 Whole QBR, the worst since ESPN started monitoring the quantity in 2006, the primary 5 video games.

Wilks mentioned Mayfield dealt with the choice to stay with Walker simply in addition to he is dealt with being a wholesome backup the previous three video games.

“We talked as males,” Wilks mentioned. “I informed them precisely what I believed. I’d say Baker is a competitor similar to Sam. All of them wish to begin. All of them wish to play. I do know he will proceed to be a professional as he is been.”