Baker Mayfield isn’t starting for Panthers this weekend
When the Carolina Panthers play their second preseason game, they won’t have Baker Mayfield or Sam Darnold under center, instead going with a surprise.
The Carolina Panthers have been playing a needless guessing game about who will be their starting quarterback all summer. They aren’t done yet.
While reports state the newly-acquired Baker Mayfield is going to be the starter — he will be, this has been clear since the moment the trade went down — no official announcement has come from head coach Matt Rhule. However, Mayfield started Carolina’s first preseason game last week against the Washington Commanders.
Baker Mayfield isn’t starting on Friday night for the Carolina Panthers
Then, in a surprising plot twist for Friday night, the Panthers announced neither Mayfield nor last year’s starter, Sam Darnold, will start against the New England Patriots. Instead, it will be 2021 holdover P.J. Walker, with rookie third-round pick Matt Corral filing the rest of the time.
P.J. Walker is expected to start at quarterback for the Panthers in their second preseason game vs. the Patriots, per sources. Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold are still in a QB battle for the 1 spot and Panthers playing mostly 2s and 3s tonight. So, neither gets the start.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 19, 2022
If you’re wondering why the Panthers are doing this, you aren’t alone. It’s not as though Mayfield couldn’t use the work with his new teammates, or that Darnold couldn’t use the work, period. Still, Rhule clearly feels the reps are more value to Walker and Corral, who are fighting for the third and fourth spots on the depth chart.
Regardless, Carolina has until Sept. 11 to officially name its starter and then play the Cleveland Browns. Assuming it’s Mayfield, that could be one of the all-time revenge games, with the former No. 1 overall pick seeing his first team in his inaugural game for the Panthers.