Panthers bench struggling PJ Walker for Baker Mayfield vs. Bengals

CINCINNATI — Baker Mayfield puzzled earlier within the week whether or not he would get one other shot to play quarterback for the Carolina Panthers.

Dealing with the most important halftime deficit in staff historical past, down 35-0 to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at Paycor Stadium, interim coach Steve Wilks lastly turned to the primary choose of the 2018 draft and benched a struggling PJ Walker.

Mayfield, enjoying for the primary time since a Week 5 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, threw an 8-yard landing go to Tommy Tremble on his first drive to chop the result in 35-7. He accomplished 4 of 6 passes for 34 yards and the landing, his first since a Week 4 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

It was solely the fifth landing go of the season for Mayfield in opposition to 4 interceptions.

Mayfield was changed by Walker in Week 6 after struggling a excessive ankle sprain within the loss to the 49ers. He remained the backup regardless of being wholesome sufficient to play the following two video games and Sunday in opposition to the Bengals. Partially this was as a result of Walker was enjoying effectively and partially as a result of Mayfield’s 15.3 Complete Quarterback Ranking the primary 5 video games was final within the NFL and the worst for a quarterback since ESPN started monitoring the stat in 2006.

Walker had a disastrous first half in opposition to the Bengals, finishing solely 3 of 10 go makes an attempt for 9 yards with two interceptions. The Panthers have been outgained 268 yards to 19 within the half, and the 35-point deficit was the most important for a primary half in staff historical past.

The earlier document was a 32-point deficit to the New Orleans Saints on Dec. 29, 2019.

Mayfield talked earlier within the week in regards to the “looming query” of what his future can be at Carolina when 2021 starter Sam Darnold was activated from injured reserve with the Tuesday deadline developing. That would depart the Panthers with three quarterbacks in Walker, Mayfield and Darnold, and groups seldom carry three quarterbacks with one other on the apply squad.

Wilks additionally has mentioned beforehand he wished to get one other have a look at Darnold earlier than the season is over.

“That is not for us to deal with,” Mayfield mentioned Thursday. “We’re anxious about sooner or later at a time. That is the way it’s been dealt with. We’ll see when that point comes. I haven’t got the appropriate reply.”