Panthers coach Steve Wilks: QB PJ Walker expected to start vs. Falcons, Carolina defense dropping too many passes
Just two months ago, quarterback PJ Walker was fielding questions about whether he wanted to be traded or cut.
“Personally, that is not my decision,” Walker said about his options on Aug. 19. “I am just going to go out there and go to work. I am here. So that is all that matters. I’m present here.”
Twenty minutes removed from a two-interception preseason performance as the Panthers’ No. 4 quarterback, Walker was a week away from not making the final 53-man roster. Baker Mayfield was the starter. Sam Darnold, with an $18.9 million deal, was backup and Matt Corral, the developmental rookie. Three quarterbacks had a role. Walker did not. Rather than practice in Carolina, perhaps Walker could’ve competed for a backup job elsewhere.
That possibility became moot a few hours later when the team learned Corral sustained a Lisfranc injury and would miss the entire season. The following week, Darnold sustained a high ankle sprain in the preseason finale against Buffalo. Suddenly, Walker was Mayfield’s backup — until Mayfield also hurt his ankle in Week 5.
From fourth-stringer to Tom Brady-beater, Walker is expected to make his third consecutive start on Sunday in Atlanta against the Falcons.
“It is going to be tough not to put him back in there,” Wilks said Monday. “As of right now, I don’t see any reason not to. I thought his performance (Sunday) was very impressive. The things that he did, just really commanding the offense and pushing the ball down the field.”
In a 21-3 victory against the Buccaneers, Walker posted a quarterback rating of 126.5, which was 45.3 points higher than Brady. Walker threw two touchdowns. Brady threw none. However, Walker’s most impressive throw was not a touchdown. Walker completed a deep crossing route to DJ Moore in the second half. Wilks said the play exemplified all 11 offensive players executing their jobs.
“When you keep talking about being close, you still want to be able to see the fruits of your labor,” Wilks said. “That is what happened (Sunday). The guys saw it in a very impressive way.”
Wilks said he expects Walker to start regardless of how Mayfield or Darnold practice. Both are nursing ankle injuries. Darnold was removed from injured reserve last week but has yet to be elevated to the active roster. Mayfield threw during the portion of practice open to media last week. He was a limited practice participant on Thursday and Friday.
It is unclear how much Mayfield and Darnold will practice this week. Wilks said their murky status combined with Walker’s play is why he is comfortable starting Walker again.
Wilks is pleased with how the offense rushed for 173 yards on 27 carries but challenged the team to yet again be better on third down.
“Offensively, I thought we did a great job controlling the line of scrimmage,” Wilks said. “There are situations for us (like) third down, we didn’t run the proper depth. And we found ourselves being short. Fourth-and-1 is a very difficult situation.”
Walker helped Carolina avoid difficult red zone situations. His two touchdown passes came just inside the red zone and helped keep the Buccaneers from coming back.
Running back D’Onta Foreman also swung the game. His 60-yard third-quarter rush highlighted a Panthers running game playing without Christian McCaffrey for the first time.
“I wish I would’ve scored on it,” Foreman said with a laugh. “There were a lot of great blocks on that play. Ikem (Ekwonu) had a great block. It opened a lane and I found a crease and got inside of it. But I should have scored.”
Foreman led all rushers with 118 yards on 15 carries. With McCaffrey gone, the Panthers explored a more diverse rushing attack. Foreman is a downhill runner, capable of wearing defenses down at the second level. As demonstrated on his 19-yard touchdown run, Chuba Hubbard can expose a cut-back lane and dash to pay dirt.
Hubbard has a Grade I ankle sprain, according to a league source. He did not finish Sunday’s game. Wilks said it is unclear if Hubbard will practice this week or not. According to a league source, the team does expect him to practice at some point this week.
The combination of Foreman, Hubbard, and Raheem Blackshear will lead the Panthers’ running attack again this week. Wilks said the offense planted the seeds for its running game in the loss to the Rams. Tackle Taylor Moton agreed.
“Like coach said, the seeds were planted,” Moton said. “And it was great to see that we took a big step this past week. Now we want to take another step, and then just make it more consistent. That’s what this game is all about, especially up front.”
Wilks said he also wants the defense that held Tampa Bay’s Brady out of the end zone to be more consistent, specifically when catching passes.
“There’s a lot of opportunities that we left on the field. Those are the things that we got to correct. Defensively, you saw probably about three or four opportunities to get interceptions, which we did not. We dropped the ball,” Wilks said. “As we progress throughout the year and get in tough spots, tough games, we need those game-changers in order to win the football game.”
Free safety Xavier Woods dropped two interceptions. He said the missed opportunities hurt even more considering he has never turned over Brady before.
“My hands failed me,” Woods said. “It won’t happen again.”
The Panthers have a chance to take sole possession of the NFC South on Sunday by beating the Falcons. Wilks said he plans on Carolina being in close games. Woods said he is going to practice catching on the jugs machine this week to be better prepared for those game-changing moments.
This story was originally published October 25, 2022 at 1:00 AM.
