Baker Mayfield checks OK however QB doubtless out 2-6 weeks

Exams on Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s excessive ankle sprain revealed no different structural harm however the damage is predicted to take two to 6 weeks to heal, a supply informed ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Tuesday.

Mayfield desires to attempt to play on the damage as early as doable however that shall be an uphill battle, the supply stated.

PJ Walker is predicted to start out Sunday in opposition to the defending Tremendous Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams within the first recreation for interim head coach Steve Wilks. Head coach Matt Rhule was fired Monday after 1-4 begin that left him with 11 losses in his previous 12 video games.

Mayfield suffered the damage late within the first half of Sunday’s 37-15 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The primary choose of the 2018 draft performed many of the second half, however arrived for his postgame information convention carrying a strolling boot on his left foot.

Mayfield’s subpar play contributed to this 12 months’s sluggish begin. He had what Rhule referred to as a “intestine punch” pick-six close to the top of the primary half in opposition to the Rams and his 16.5 Whole QBR is the second lowest after 5 video games of any quarterback since ESPN started monitoring the stat in 2006.

Walker, 2-0 as a starter for Carolina the previous two seasons, is the one wholesome quarterback at the moment on the lively roster. Sam Darnold, the 2021 starter, stays on injured reserve recovering from an ankle sprain in late August.

ESPN’s David Newton contributed to this report.