The Carolina Panthers opened training camp with a quarterback battle on their hands. After a few weeks of camp, a preseason game and joint practices with the Patriots, it looks like head coach Matt Rhule is focused on his decision.
Baker Mayfield should be named Carolina’s starting quarterback for Week 1, according to Athleticism.
Of course, things seemed to be moving in that direction for some time. Even when the Panthers acquired Mayfield in a trade from the Cleveland Browns in early July, the general expectation was that he would have the inside lane to start out the door on incumbent Sam Darnold, who fell short. to impress in 2021 after being brought in from New York.
That has since proven to be the case with Mayfield starting the Panthers’ pre-season opener and the former No. 1 overall pick playing well in his brief appearance. He finished his day 4 of 7 passing for 45 yards and led Carolina on a 13-play opener that resulted in a field goal.
Mayfield and Darnold split first-team reps during camp, but it was Mayfield who pulled out. Last week, Rhule hailed Mayfield’s progress in attack after just 10 days of training camp, calling him “pretty impressive.” Rhule noted that he won’t officially make a decision until after the Panthers’ Week 2 preseason game with the Patriots on Friday, but – according to this latest report – all signs point to Mayfield.
Once that becomes official, it sets the stage for one of the most intriguing Week 1 matchups on Sunday’s slate as the Panthers host the Browns at Bank of America Stadium. So Mayfield’s first start in a Panthers uniform will come against the team that ousted him this offseason in favor of Deshaun Watson, who is still awaiting official sanction out of the league after the NFL appealed his six-game suspension. Regardless of how this call plays out, Mayfield won’t be able to face Watson and will likely face veteran Jacoby Brissett as he looks to get the better of his former club.