We’re not even 12 weeks into the 2022 season and we may have already seen the last of the Carolina Panthers’ Baker Mayfield experiment.
As announced by the team on Tuesday and confirmed by interim head coach Steve Wilks on Wednesday, Sam Darnold is set to receive the starting nod under center in Week 12 against the Denver Broncos. And when speaking to reporters for the first time since the news broke, Mayfield seemed at peace with the situation.
“I think there’s a lot of things up in the air for the future here,” he said after Wednesday’s practice. “So, I don’t really know. I’m doing what I can, what I can control. And I know how my teammates feel about me and how I’ve handled things here. So, I can leave here with my head held high and understand that I did everything I could.”
Mayfield, who was acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Browns back on July 6, started six games for Carolina this season. The Panthers went 1-5 in those outings—as the former No. 1 overall pick tossed for 1,158 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions while completing a career-low 56.5 percent of his passes.
So if Mayfield doesn’t play another snap here in 2022, which is a very real possibility given the team’s move to Darnold and recent preference for PJ Walker, he’ll definitely be entering free agency this spring on a sour note.
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