Baker Mayfield will begin the Carolina Panthers’ regular-season opener towards his former workforce, the Cleveland Browns. Panthers coach Matt Rhule made the announcement on the workforce’s web site on Monday.
Mayfield, acquired in a commerce with the Browns earlier this offseason, beat out incumbent starter Sam Darnold for the job. The information was anticipated as Mayfield had outperformed Darnold throughout most of coaching camp.
“After we began this course of, we have been taking a look at three issues,” Rhule stated. “Primary, mastery of the offense, quantity two, situational soccer excellence, and quantity three, shifting the ball and getting guys concerned. That’s been our focus all alongside. Baker has made quite a lot of enchancment, quite a lot of progress in all three areas in a brief period of time.”
Each Mayfield and Darnold are anticipated to play within the workforce’s preseason finale on Friday evening towards the Buffalo Payments. Neither Mayfield nor Darnold has seen a lot motion within the preseason and each have been held out of final week’s sport towards the New England Patriots.
Mayfield was the No 1 total choose within the 2018 draft, whereas Darnold went at No 3 to the New York Jets. Darnold was traded to the Panthers final 12 months after struggling to determine himself with the Jets and did not shine in Carolina final season. Mayfield helped the Browns to the playoffs in 2020, however carried an damage in 2021 and was 6-8 because the workforce’s starter. He was surplus to necessities in Cleveland after the workforce traded for Deshaun Watson.
“It’s not a redemption 12 months,” Mayfield stated final week. “I do know what I’m able to. I’m not making an attempt to show something to anyone else. I’m simply making an attempt to steer this locker room the perfect I can and win a bunch of ballgames.’’
Rhule initially stated the Panthers would hold three quarterbacks on the roster, however that was earlier than rookie third-round draft choose Matt Corral suffered a Lisfranc ligament tear in his foot.
“All alongside, we’ve felt like we have to have a very robust quarterback room, and have each quarterback able to play,” Rhule stated. “The fact of this league is most groups will play a number of quarterbacks. Sam has labored extremely arduous, performed rather well for us throughout coaching camp, and will likely be able to go if and when it’s wanted.”
Mayfield is because of make $18.1m this season, with the Browns choosing up $10.5m of his wage. Darnold is set to earn the same quantity ($18.58m)
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