![]() ![]() The decision looked better after an upset at the Arizona Cardinals the next week, when Newton, in only eight plays, ran and threw for a touchdown. They were 4-5 and still in the thick of the NFC playoff hunt. The decision on whether to play Darnold again this season seemed simple when the Panthers initially signed Newton. “I don’t know that I’ve seen enough from Cam to tell me that I would invest in his future.’’ “I wouldn’t hesitate as long as he was physically able to do it,’’ Polian said. Walker, despite a 2-0 record as the starter the past two seasons, is considered no better than a backup at best. 14, 2018 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the week before a shoulder injury derailed his career. He is 0-3 this season at Carolina and has lost his past 11 starts with the Panthers, dating back to an Oct. So, barring a trade, which is highly unlikely because of his overall performance, Darnold will be with Carolina next year. He reminds that Darnold was 3-0 with Christian McCaffrey to start the season and his struggles began after the running back was injured in Week 3.ĭarnold, 24, also is the only quarterback under contract in 2022 because the Panthers picked up his fifth-year option, guaranteeing him $18.7 million. Polian, for one, would play Darnold if cleared medically. He suggests Darnold is a week or two out from that.Īnd there is a sense the Panthers already know what they have in Darnold, so there’s no reason to play him. To complicate the dilemma is whether the Panthers should continue exploring if Newton can be the answer (despite current evidence suggesting he is not) or find a way to get Darnold back on the field (when evidence suggests he’s also not the answer).įor now, the former is the only option because Rhule has “no idea’’ when doctors will clear Darnold to practice fully. “It’s always a dilemma if the guy, quote, unquote, isn’t there,’’ Polian said. Those teams have a combined record of 12-52-1. Their combined 34.5 total QBR for the season ranks 27th, above only the Detroit Lions (29.1), Chicago Bears (31.5), New York Jets (31.7), Houston Texans (32.3) and Jacksonville Jaguars (32.5). Since Week 5, the trio’s combined stats rank last in every major category except average passing yards, where they rank 31st. Their combined completion percentage (58.6) ranks 30th, and their touchdown-to-interception ratio (11-17) ranks 31st. Newton, Darnold and Walker have a combined QBR of 34.5, which ranks 27th in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats and Information. Statistics support the answer is not at Bank of America Stadium. “When he’s not in the building, and that appears to be the case right now, that’s when it’s really hard.’’ “When that guy is there, whether he’s a fledgling rookie or a grizzled veteran, when he’s in the building, all you’ve got to do is get him in the lineup and the rest of it is relatively straight forward. “They’re between a rock and a hard place,’’ said Polian, the general manager of the Panthers in ’95 and the Bills the seven years before that. In the opinion of Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian, the solution doesn’t appear to be on the roster, unlike 1995. That’s a big reason why they’ve lost eight of their past 10 games. With that trio of quarterbacks, the Panthers (5-8) have the NFL’s worst passing attack and worst total quarterback rating (24.5) since Week 5. On top of that, Sam Darnold, sidelined by a shoulder injury since Week 9, has been designated for return to practice and could be ready to play in a couple of weeks. Walker - in part because Newton has struggled with four turnovers the past two games and in part because he’s still learning the system. Cam Newton is the starter, but coach Matt Rhule also plans to use P.J. After losing his first two starts, Collins won seven of his next 11 that season and was 9-3 the next.įast forward to Sunday’s game at Buffalo (1 p.m. Rookie Kerry Collins took over the next week after Reich’s dreadful performance in the 31-9 loss to the Buffalo Bills. – Frank Reich was the starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers when the then-expansion franchise made its first trip to Buffalo in 1995. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĬarolina Panthers between 'rock and a hard place' at QB with Cam Newton, Sam Darnold, P.J. ![]()
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