Darnold to start for Panthers
Carolina quarterback Sam Darnold will make his season debut Sunday against Denver after interim coach Steve Wilks decided to bench Baker Mayfield following yet another rocky
performance in a 13-3 loss to Baltimore last weekend.
Darnold has spent the majority of the season on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain he suffered during the preseason. He becomes the fourth quarterback to play for the Panthers (3-8) this season — and the third starter, joining Mayfield and injured P.J. Walker.
Darnold went 4-7 as Carolina’s starter last season, falling apart after getting the Panthers off to a 3-0 start under former coach Matt Rhule. He finished the year completing 59.9% of his passes with nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions for a 71.9 passer rating.
Mayfield has struggled since being acquired in a trade from Cleveland in July, going 1-5 as Carolina’s starter. The 2018 No. 1 overall draft pick has completed 57.8% of his passes with six touchdowns and six interceptions for a 74.4 rating.
The Chargers signed kicker Cameron Dicker to the active roster and placed Dustin Hopkins on injured reserve . ... New York Giants cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (knee) is out for Thanksgiving against Dallas . ... Cleveland put starter Ethan Pocic (knee) on injured reserve . ... Arizona fired offensive line coach and run game coordinator Sean Kugler . ...
The NFL Players Assn. claims teams have colluded to avoid giving players fully guaranteed contracts and it filed a grievance last month, the Associated Press reported. No player received a fully guaranteed contract since March, when the Browns gave quarterback Deshaun Watson a guaranteed $230-million deal.
Four-time All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis is one of five first-year eligible players among 28 modern day semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2023. Joining Revis as candidates for next year are offensive linemen Jahri Evans and Joe Thomas, defensive lineman Dwight Freeney and linebacker James Harrison. Former Rams Henry Ellard, Torry Holt and London Fletcher are on the list.
St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols and Houston ace Justin Verlander won comeback player of the year . ... Philadelphia gave team President Dave Dombrowski a three-year extension through 2027.
The Toronto Maple Leafs placed defenseman Morgan Rielly on long-term injured reserve with a knee injury.
Kansas and football coach Lance Leipold agreed to a two-year extension through 2029.
The Final Four is headed to Las Vegas for the first time. The NCAA awarded the men’s national semifinals and championship game to Allegiant Stadium for the 2027-28 season. The NCAA also announced that Ford Field in Detroit would host the Final Four in 2027, while Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis would get the 2029 event and AT&T Stadium in Dallas would get it in 2030.
Australia reached the Davis Cup semifinals by beating the Netherlands.