Panthers notes: McAdoo says QB decision was Wilks’ choice, Chinn returns to practice
Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said he supports interim head coach Steve Wilks’ decision to start PJ Walker at quarterback against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday. But McAdoo also made it abundantly clear on Tuesday that the choice to go with Walker came down to Wilks having the final say.
“Yeah, that’s Coach’s decision,” McAdoo said. “We had some conversations behind the scenes. I don’t want to get really involved in that a whole heckuva a lot.”
Walker was benched on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals at halftime. Walker completed just three of 10 passes for nine yards and two interceptions, as the Bengals took a 35-0 lead into the locker room.
Walker finished with a 0.0 passer rating and gave way to backup Baker Mayfield, who led three scoring drives and threw for 155 yards and two touchdowns in the second half.
“I think Baker did a tremendous job coming in there in the second half, and those are tough situations to come into for a backup,” McAdoo said. “But he steadied the offense, did a nice job.”
While McAdoo was complimentary of Mayfield, the play-caller also acknowledged that the second half of the blowout loss to the Bengals didn’t completely negate the positives of Walker’s first four games as a starter.
“There’s something in there that makes him special,” McAdoo said. “He’s got a lot of fight, and for him to be here and for him to be playing the way he’s played this year — outside of a couple of quarters — says a lot about him. I still have a lot of faith in him, I still have a lot of confidence in him.”
Chinn returns to practice, but probably won’t play Thursday
The Panthers designated safety Jeremy Chinn (hamstring) to return from injured reserve on Tuesday. Chinn returned to practice in a helmet and uniform for the first time since being placed on injured reserve on Oct. 5.
Chinn, who now has a 21-day practice window, injured his hamstring in the Week 4 home to loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The third-year safety is one of the defense’s top players, and the unit has missed him during the past five weeks.
However, with Chinn on the mend, the Panthers are taking a patient approach. Wilks said he isn’t likely to use Chinn on Thursday against Atlanta.
“He moved around well,” Wilks said after practice. “It was good to see him out there — running around, communicating, talking — and I doubt ... that I would put him in that situation this week.”
“With a day of walk-through, and he hasn’t practiced or played in six weeks, that’s like really asinine.”
Through the first four games of the season, Chinn produced 20 tackles, a sack and two pass breakups. The Panthers have replaced him with Myles Hartsfield, Sean Chandler and Juston Burris during his absence.
More injury updates
Burris (concussion protocol) and wide receiver Rashard Higgins (illness) were absence from Tuesday’s practice. Burris and Higgins both missed Sunday’s loss against the Bengals.
Defensive tackle Matt Ioannidis (back) and right tackle Taylor Moton (elbow) were limited during Tuesday’s workout. Moton was a new addition to the injury report.
Running back Chuba Hubbard (ankle) was a full participant for the first time in three weeks. Hubbard has missed the past two games with practice-squad back Spencer Brown filling in for him on Sundays.
Cornerback Donte Jackson (ankle), who dressed Sunday but didn’t play against the Bengals, was also a full participant. Defensive end Brian Burns (shoulder), cornerback C.J. Henderson (finger), linebacker Frankie Luvu (neck), wideout Laviska Shenault (illness) and defensive tackle Derrick Brown (illness) were also listed as full participants, despite being on the injury report.
The Panthers will release their final injury report on Wednesday afternoon.
This story was originally published November 8, 2022 at 2:31 PM.
