Panthers QB tracker: Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold duel at New England joint practices
Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule started Baker Mayfield in the team’s first preseason game, a 23-21 victory against Washington, but that does not mean the job is 100% his just yet.
Rhule remains steadfast on not naming a full-time starter until after Friday’s preseason game against New England, at the earliest. The Patriots are hosting joint practices with Carolina ahead of their late-week exhibition.
On Tuesday on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium, neither Mayfield nor Sam Darnold quarterbacked like starters. Sacks, penalties, a turnover, and inaccurate throws haunted both quarterbacks throughout the two-hour practice.
There were some bright spots. Mayfield connected on a 45-yard deep ball to DJ Moore, the team’s lone completion of more than 15 yards. Running backs Christian McCaffrey and Chuba Hubbard busted through a few giant running lanes during a team session. D’Onta Foreman capped a 2-minute drive led by Darnold with a 3-yard rushing touchdown.
Mayfield and the first-team offense marched 55-yards in six plays during a 2-minute segment. He completed three passes, including a 20-yard fourth-down pass to McCaffrey that moved Carolina inside the 5. But the Panthers turned it over on downs after three straight failed end zone tries.
“Happy to see the offense move the ball on the two-minute. Obviously, it’s something we’re working on,” Rhule said “That’s a really tough situation. There are no timeouts. The chances of going that far and scoring a touchdown are probably in the high teens or low 20 (percent). So it was good to get that work.”
The Panthers’ defense intercepted Patriots quarterback Mac Jones to end their two-minute opportunity. Linebacker Frankie Luvu slid underneath a red-zone pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage.
If there was a joint-practice fantasy football league, neither Carolina nor New England’s offenses would be worth drafting. Here is a closer look at Day 13 of the quarterback competition between Mayfield and Darnold.
Baker Mayfield
Stats (unofficial): 13 for 24
Mayfield struggled to connect with first-team receivers Robbie Anderson and Moore all afternoon. Practiced opened with competitive one-on-one throws, receivers versus cornerbacks. On at least 15 passes, Carolina completed only seven balls.
Eventually, Anderson and Moore each caught short passes across the middle but neither could open outside the numbers against Patriots defensive backs Jalen Mills or Terrance Mitchell. Between the numbers is where Mayfield is consistently connecting. He’s developing a reliable rapport with slot receivers Shi Smith and Derek Wright.
Aside from his deep completion to Moore and moving the ball during the two-minute drill, Mayfield had an inconsistent day both pre and post-snap. Anderson did not help him out. Too often he’s not catching contested back shoulder or comeback balls.
Mayfield took two costly sacks, whether they were his fault or not, that would’ve derailed multiple drives. He also committed a delay-of-game penalty that went unflagged.
Best throw: Mayfield is not afraid to give his playmakers an opportunity. His deep completion to Moore came via a play-action fake. Moore was in the slot to his left and ran a deep corner route. Mayfield let a wobbly ball fly. With just a safety to beat, Moore slowed, came back to the ball, twisted and fielded it like a punt.
Far from textbook, but it put Carolina in the red zone.
Notable mistake: During an early third-down segment, Mayfield took too long organizing at the line of scrimmage. Carolina broke its huddle with only 12 seconds left on the play clock. After a few commands and some hand motions, the play clock expired. No whistles followed. Carolina snapped it two seconds later for a loss of 2 yards on a McCaffrey run.
Sam Darnold
Stats (unofficial): 10 for 19
Whenever Darnold generates some momentum a turnover usually follows. After Carolina’s first offense turned it over on downs inside the 5-yard line, Darnold opened his two-minute series with three straight completions.
Undrafted free agent Derek Wright (who also earned slot reps with the first team) opened down the left seam for a chunk gain. Then Rashard Higgins pulled Carolina into the red zone via a 10-yard hitch route. Following a run play, Darnold tossed an interception to cornerback Shaun Wade after his pass was batted near the line of scrimmage.
The interception wasn’t necessarily Darnold’s fault, but he continues to throw too many of them.
Best throw: Darnold dropped a smooth seam ball to Wright, sparking the second team’s two-minute drive.
Notable mistake: None. The interception was not his fault. Batted balls happen. The coaches agreed and awarded Carolina the ball at the 5-yard line following the interception to continue the drive. Foreman scored two plays later.
Who won the day?
Neither quarterback made enough plays to win the day. There is a lot on the line at Wednesday’s practice for both Darnold and Mayfield.
Total wins this preseason
Baker Mayfield 6
Sam Darnold 3
P.J. Walker/Matt Corral 1
* There was a tie on Days 8 and 12
Notes
▪ Center Bradley Bozeman injured his left ankle during an early inside run segment. Bozeman stayed down while trainers evaluated his leg. He walked off gingerly before a cart drove him off the fields and into the locker room. Rhule did not provide an injury update after practice.
▪ Cornerback Jaycee Horn participated in one-on-one and some 11-on-11 drills. Rhule said the team kept Horn on a pitch count of about 25 plays. During a two-minute session, Rhule had to run over and remove Horn from the field because he had exhausted his reps despite him wanting to continue.
▪ Receiver Terrace Marshall is on a similar 20- to 25-play limit. Marshall has been dealing with a calf injury but is trending in the right direction and should be more available throughout the week.
▪ Panthers defensive players Kenny Robinson and Phil Hoskins were ejected for fighting after a team melee broke out between Carolina’s offense and New England’s defense.
▪ Rhule had high praise for undrafted free agent Derek Wright after practice.
“Derek knows what he’s doing. He gets open. He catches the football,” Rhule said. “That’s the core of what you do at receiver, and he just keeps making plays.”
▪ Rookie Ikem Ekwonu will start at left tackle going forward, Rhule said after practice. Brady Christensen, who was taking first-team left tackle reps, will compete with Michael Jordan at left guard.
