The Panthers are adding another quarterback. According to ESPN, the team is signing P.J. Walker, who was tearing up the XFL before their season was cut short. Walker went 5-0 as the starter for the Houston Roughnecks and displayed some tantalizing arm talent.
Let’s take a look at five of his best throws from the 2020 season.
The 84-yard bomb
On this play, Walker shows some good footwork by climbing the pocket and delivering a long ball to Cam Phillips despite getting hit as he threw.
P.J. Walker bombs it deep WHILE GETTING TACKLED
84-yard touchdown to Cam Phillips.pic.twitter.com/VsoY4Vkblu
— XFL on Sporting News (@sn_xfl) February 22, 2020
The Patrick Mahomes side-arm
Here Walker shows he has some Patrick Mahomes in him, adjusting his release point and finding Philips in the end zone again.
The Bears genuinely should have waited to bring in another QB. They could’ve signed human highlight reel P.J. Walker.
pic.twitter.com/60XuuiKgks— Noah Osen (@NoahOsen) March 23, 2020
The Russell Wilson special
Here Walker again shows off his footwork, scrambling to avoid pressure then floating a pass over the next level of the defense.
P.J. Walker stats in five XFL games (all wins): 119-of-184 (65%), 1,338 yards, 15 passing TD, 4 INT and this throw. pic.twitter.com/bLP1YBI6Wf
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 23, 2020
Shades of Deshaun Watson
Here’s a play with shades of Deshaun Watson. Walker delivers a strike to the corner of the end zone from 40 yards out after evading another tackle.
How the hell does he keep doing this?!?!
P.J. Walker = 🐐
pic.twitter.com/Pp2dJk3Ik4— Sevach (@SeriouslySevach) February 8, 2020
The missile over the middle
Here Walker channels Cam Newton, standing tall in the pocket and throwing a 30-yard missile over the middle of the field to Nick Holley, putting Houston in scoring position.
Incredible throw from P.J. Walker to Nick Holley, who pays him back with a great catch pic.twitter.com/6VU3WK1qsI
— Arif Hasan, bewares the Ides 🍀🔪 (@ArifHasanNFL) February 9, 2020
The touchdown scramble
Walker is more than just an arm, though. He also showed some wheels, including this touchdown run which began on a broken play.
P.J. Walker is ridiculous.
He scores a touchdown here on a broken play. pic.twitter.com/uIMHWOp1qq
— XFL on Sporting News (@sn_xfl) February 22, 2020
Obviously, the competition Walker faced in the XFL is nowhere near what he’ll be dealing with in the NFL. However, these are some high-level throws and he’s obviously developed a lot since he first played for head coach Matt Rhule at Temple.
For now, we should probably assume Walker will be the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart behind Teddy Bridgewater. Kyle Allen’s position is less stable even though he signed a one-year deal recently. 2019 third-round pick Will Grier should be most concerned about this development. He bombed as a rookie and this signing is an indication he may not be around much longer.
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