Panthers’ Rhule yet to decide between quarterbacks Darnold, Mayfield
Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Ruhle says he’ll wait until after the game against the Patriots before choosing his QB for Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season.
Ahead of his third season as head coach of the Carolina Panthers, Matt Rhule has a dilemma: who will be the starting quarterback, Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield? At the moment, that question still has no answer.
No decision on starting QB until after Patriots game
Speaking on Saturday, Rhule said he doesn’t plan to make a decision on who’ll start in Week 1 until after the Panthers’ second preseason game, against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Friday 19 August.
“I’m not putting a timetable on the quarterback position until after we get back from the Patriots week,” Rhule said, via ESPN’s David Newton. “The Patriots week is a true litmus test for us. That will really show us where guys are.”
During practice on Saturday, Mayfield and Darnold had equal opportunities with the starting offense, according to Newton. The insider noted that both passers were intercepted once.
Darnold vs Mayfield: comparing the Panthers’ quarterbacks
In 2021, his first season in Charlotte, Darnold started 11 games (4-7) and recorded 243 passes (59.9% ERA), 2,527 yards, nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Meanwhile, during his final season with the Cleveland Browns, Mayfield started 13 games (6-7) and accumulated 253 passes (60.5% completion rate), 3,010 yards, 17 touchdowns and 13 turnovers.