On Sunday, Carolina Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks didn’t exactly commit to Sam Darnold as his team’s starting quarterback for Week 16. But he did today.
A little less than 24 hours after Carolina’s 24-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Wilks confirmed that Darnold will be under center against the Detroit Lions this coming Saturday. This’ll mark the fifth-year passer’s fourth start of the season.
“Yes, he will be the starter,” Wilks replied when asked of his plans by Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer.
Wilks also gave a bit of a critique on Darnold’s performance in the defeat.
“I thought Sam made some good throws yesterday,” he said. “Couple of throws, I felt like, we had an opportunity to get out there a little quicker and a chance to have a touchdown—particularly the deep one to Terrace [Marshall Jr.] down their sideline. And then also the one we got the PI on on our sideline in the end zone. He and I spoke this morning. He realized he needs to get it out there a little quicker.”
Darnold got 23 passes out in Week 15—completing 14 of them for a season-high 225 yards and a touchdown to wide receiver DJ Moore. He also has yet to commit a turnover over his three starts in 2022.
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