The Carolina Panthers beat the Atlanta Falcons 25-15 on Thursday night to pick up their third win of the season, but fans were stunned to see unused quarterback Baker Mayfield 'headbutting' team-mates to celebrate.
Mayfield celebrated wildly as the Panthers beat the Falcons by slamming into his team-mates with no helmet on, and it's not gone down well with Undisputed host Shannon Sharpe. Mayfield hasn't had a great time at the Panthers so far, recording his lowest quarterback rating since becoming an NFL star.
And Sharpe thinks that Mayfield is 'trash' despite impressing in the NFL as a rookie with the Cleveland Browns. The Panthers won the game with Phillip Walker at quarterback, and Sharpe thinks that Mayfield is desperate for attention.
"This is the only way Baker Mayfield can garner attention, because he can't do it on the football field," Sharpe said when reflecting on his headbutting antics. "Baker Mayfield is trash."
Mayfield has a record of 1-4 when playing for the Panthers this season, and with a QBR of just 78.1, it's a career low for the quarterback. Mayfield turned heads in his rookie season with the Browns in 2018, with an impressive rating of 93.7.
The quarterback only played 14 games back then, but finished the season with 27 passing touchdowns. He has not been able to replicate that number ever since, and Sharpe isn't a fan of the former Browns star.
But his replacement last night, Walker, didn't exactly throw his best game either. With just 10 completions and 108 passing yards all night, it was a disappointing evening for Walker, and he had his running-backs to thank for inspiring victory.
D'Onta Foreman carried the ball for 130 yards, and inevitably scored a touchdown after finishing the game with 31 rushing attempts. Even Laviska Shenault Jr found his way into the endzone as the Panthers utilised the running game.
Questions have also been raised by head coach Steve Wilks, but even he doesn't seem to have much faith in Mayfield. Walker was pulled after a nightmare game against the Cincinnati Bengals last week, and Mayfield came in and produced perhaps his best performance of the season.
But it still wasn't enough to be given a start, and Wilks told reporters he intends to start Walker in their next game against the Baltimore Ravens. However, Wilks did say that Walker’s status as the starter is only "as I stand here today".
Wilks will continue to evaluate their other options at quarterback, as Mayfield and Sam Darnold are eager to be considered. But the Panthers are finding a way to win with Walker.
