PJ Walker feels for former Panthers coach Matt Rhule but is ready for his shot
.JPG "Carolina Panthers quarterback PJ Walker, normally a backup, is 2-0 as an NFL starter. He is likely to start for the Panthers Sunday in Los Angeles against the L.A. Rams.")
It’s both ironic and poetic that quarterback PJ Walker is on track to start for the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Walker was the only winning quarterback of the Matt Rhule era. His 2-0 mark will be tested against the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams if Baker Mayfield cannot practice this week due to a high ankle sprain.
The team moved on from Rhule, who was fired on Monday after posting an 11-27 record as Panthers head coach, but his Temple and Baylor influences remain. Look no further than Walker. The former Owl is in line to make his third NFL start despite entering Panthers training camp as the No. 4 quarterback just 10 weeks ago.
“The love (Matt Rhule) had for this group was sincere. It hurt to see him walk away, to see him go,” Walker said. “Over the summertime I had a different perspective on this whole situation and now coming up we’ll see what happens on Sunday. ... I just kept my head down and kept working. However, it played out is how it played out and it just ended up this week that I could possibly be playing.”
Interim head coach Steve Wilks did not name Walker the starter Wednesday, nor rule out Mayfield. He said Mayfield is day-to-day. Walker took the first-team reps on Wednesday, which was a fully padded practice. Under Rhule the team practiced in full pads on Thursdays.
Wilks said he switched padded practice days to create an increased tempo and sense of urgency at practice.
“I’m confident in PJ, and I think the players are very confident in PJ, as well,” Wilks said. “As coaches, we have to help create different (advantageous) scenarios for him. As I mentioned the other day, there are 11 guys out there and I cannot ask one guy to win a game. PJ had a great day of practice. His accuracy was on point, and he did a great job getting guys in and out of the huddle. I am encouraged.”
Practice squad quarterback Jacob Eason will likely back up Walker if Mayfield cannot play. Wilks said quarterback Sam Darnold could be activated from injured reserve next week. He has been battling a high ankle sprain suffered during the final week of the preseason.
Walker said the offense will operate similarly with him at quarterback. The Panthers rank near or at the bottom in nearly every important offensive statistic. But Walker could be the spark needed to get Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore and Robbie Anderson going.
“I’m going to play the game and get the ball in my playmakers’ hands,” Walker said. “That’s the only way I know.”
Walker and the Panthers have an opportunity to rediscover their offense against the Rams. Despite featuring future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald, the Rams’ pass rush ranks 31st in pressure rate.
“I feel like we all have great chemistry with PJ,” second-year receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. said. “The offense as a whole is comfortable with him back there. We know he can spin it and run our offense. He’s very vocal and going to get everyone going. We can look up to him to lead this offense.”
This story was originally published October 12, 2022 at 4:28 PM.
