The Carolina Panthers certainly had a rough game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon, falling behind 42-7 in the fourth quarter before eventually scoring two garbage-time touchdowns to make the final score 42-21. The loss was so bad that Panthers head coach Steve Wilks fired multiple assistant coaches on Monday, and it looks like the team is making a big move at the quarterback position in preparation for next season.
According to league insider Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network, the Panthers are activating quarterback Sam Darnold, who has been injured for much of the season after losing the starting quarterbacks job to Baker Mayfield during the offseason.
The #Panthers activated quarterback Sam Darnold and he should play some down the stretch. Part of the evaluation for next season.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 7, 2022
“The #Panthers activated quarterback Sam Darnold and he should play some down the stretch. Part of the evaluation for next season,” Rapoport said in a Tweet on Monday.
Darnold and Mayfield battled for the team’s starting quarterback spot during the offseason. Though Mayfield won the job during the offseason, he ultimately lost the job to veteran quarterback P.J. Walker – who began the season as the team’s third-string quarterback – after Walker played well with Mayfield out with an injury.
However, Mayfield was reinserted into the game during Sunday’s loss to the Bengals, prompting a new quarterback controversy.
The Panthers will have to figure out its quarterback position going forward, but Darnold has made it clear that he’s ready to play whenever he’s called upon.
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