For all intents and purposes, and no matter what former head coach Matt Rhule might’ve said, the Carolina Panthers were Baker Mayfield’s team when they traded for him back on July 6. But now, as we’ve entered Week 13 of this topsy-turvy season, that’s far from the case.
When interim head coach Steve Wilks met with reporters this past Monday, he wouldn’t break off into the bye without dropping an interesting nugget of information—one concerning the ever-changing quarterback position. With Sam Darnold securing the starting job for another week, Wilks was asked who would assume the backup role between PJ Walker and Mayfield.
Here was his response:
“Right now, waiting to see exactly where we are from a standpoint of PJ being healthy,” he said. “Then we’ll evaluate that situation as it occurs.”
Welp, that’s not very assuring, is it?
It’s clear that Walker has become the preferred choice for this Wilks-led regime, at least if you’re sizing him up against Mayfield. And if you are—Walker has conducted a more harmonious offense in his starts than Mayfield has.
Sadly, and especially after a particularly underwhelming performance in Baltimore two weeks ago, Mayfield may not even get another chance to change the outlook. In his six nods under center, he threw for four touchdowns to six interceptions while leading the Panthers to a 1-5 mark.
At this point, the Panthers have likely seen all they’ve needed to see from Baker.
So, in what was supposed to be a prove-it campaign for the impending free agent, 2022 could be turning into the worst-case scenario for Mayfield come next Sunday. Because if Walker is healthy enough to be in uniform, then it’s likelier than not that the former No. 1 overall pick will be No. 3 on the depth chart.
