Panthers’ Baker Mayfield has high-ankle sprain, status for Week 6 vs. Rams in question
The Carolina Panthers could have a new starting quarterback on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, as interim head coach Steve Wilks prepares to make his debut on the road in Week 6.
Incumbent starting quarterback Baker Mayfield suffered a high-ankle sprain during the team’s 37-15 loss to the San Francisco 49ers this past weekend, a league source confirmed to The Observer on Tuesday. That injury, which typically sidelines players for multiple weeks, has called Mayfield’s Sunday status into question.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero first reported Mayfield’s diagnosis of a high-ankle sprain.
According to the league source, the Panthers are considering Mayfield’s status as day-to-day entering the week of preparation for the Rams.
While the team hasn’t ruled out Mayfield for Week 6 just yet, the day-to-day outlook is likely an optimistic sentiment, given the typical return timeline for the injury.
Former starting quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a high-ankle sprain in the team’s preseason finale in August and was put on injured reserve in September following final cuts. Darnold has still not been cleared to practice, so he has remained on injured reserve for five weeks. Last week, former Panthers head coach Matt Rhule stated that Darnold suffered a “pretty significant” high-ankle sprain.
Mayfield suffered his ankle injury in the second quarter of the loss to the 49ers. However, he returned to play the majority of the second half and even led a touchdown-scoring drive on the Panthers’ first possession of the third quarter.
Mayfield was eventually replaced by backup P.J. Walker for the final series of the game. If Mayfield isn’t cleared to play against the Rams, Walker would likely take his place in the starting lineup.
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Walker is the only healthy quarterback on the 53-man roster. The Panthers also have former Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jacob Eason on the practice squad. If Mayfield were to miss Week 6 or be sidelined even further, the Panthers would probably elevate or promote Eason from the practice roster to backup Walker.
Following the loss to the 49ers, Mayfield said that if he was cleared to play this weekend that he would be on the field. With the Panthers starting the Wilks era against the defending Super Bowl champions, the offense could use all the help it can get that.
Mayfield has struggled through the first five games of the season. Acquired for a conditional fifth-round pick in July, Mayfield was supposed to be an upgrade at the starting quarterback position. He beat out Darnold in a training camp and preseason battle, but has since faltered.
Through five games, Mayfield has completed just 54.9% of his passes for 962 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. He has a passer rating of 71.9.
Walker, a longtime disciple of Rhule, could ironically be Wilks’ first starting quarterback in Carolina. Rhule, who was fired on Monday, signed Walker from the XFL in 2020 and the backup quarterback spent the head coach’s entire tenure with the Panthers. The pair previously worked together at Temple during Walker’s college career.
Walker has made two NFL starts during his career, and the Panthers won both matchups. He has completed 57% of his career passes for 790 yards, two touchdowns and eight interceptions.
This story was originally published October 12, 2022 at 11:31 AM with the headline "Panthers’ Baker Mayfield has high-ankle sprain, status for Week 6 vs. Rams in question."
