The Carolina Panthers still have four quarterbacks on their depth chart.
Typically, NFL teams feel that three is enough.
Therefore, could there be a casualty among them before roster cutdown day?
Until that happens, the team has revealed their quarterback plan for tonight against the New England Patriots.
🚨Panthers QB plan tonight:
Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold will NOT play.
PJ Walker will play the 1st & 3rd quarters.
Matt Corral will play the 2nd & 4th quarters.
This will help each QB work as a starter, cool down then have the mindset of a backup.
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelFOX) August 19, 2022
FOX Charlotte’s Will Kunkel shared that Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold will not play tonight.
Those two athletes were the leading candidates for the starting quarterback role until Mayfield won the job.
Both players joined the Panthers via trade with Darnold joining during the 2021 offseason in exchange for a 2021 sixth-rounder, a 2022 second-rounder, and 2022 fourth-rounder.
Meanwhile, they got Mayfield from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a conditional fifth-round draft pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
That selection will become a fourth-rounder if Mayfield plays 70 percent of the snaps this season.
With Mayfield and Darnold not suiting up, P.J. Walker will play the first and third quarters.
On the other hand, rookie play-caller Matt Corral takes quarters two and four.
Kunkel added, “This will help each QB work as a starter, cool down then have the mindset of a backup.”
He also said, “Remember — Sam and Baker got a TON of reps in joint practices this week. More is accomplished in that setting than a preseason game.”
Walker Is In Danger
Regardless of what happens against New England, it seems like Walker will get the boot unless Carolina carries four quarterbacks in 2022.
Mayfield is the starter while Darnold is the top backup.
It’s also impossible to see the Panthers cut Corral because they would like to see him blossom as a franchise quarterback.
Therefore, Walker is the odd man out and he might be looking for another squad soon.
