PANTHERS WAIVE STRUGGLING QB
The short-lived Baker Mayfield era is over in Carolina.
The Panthers waived the struggling quarterback on Monday after the 2018 No. 1 draft pick asked for his release. Mayfield would be subject to waivers and become a free agent if he goes unclaimed.
The move does not come as a surprise, because Sam Darnold replaced Mayfield after his failed second stint as starting quarterback, and the Panthers like what they have in backup P.J. Walker. The move gives Mayfield a chance to potentially land with a team that needs quarterback help.
San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson all suffered injuries over the weekend.
Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks said Mayfield asked for his release once he informed the quarterbacks that Darnold would be the team’s starter and Walker would be the backup this Sunday at Seattle.
“Baker has been nothing but a professional since he’s been here, a complete pro,” Wilks said. “I have tremendous respect for him.”
Wilks said he made the decision to go with Walker over Mayfield as the backup after “looking at the body of work the last couple of weeks. I felt P.J. has been productive when he was in there.”
Mayfield was 1-5 as Carolina’s starting QB and completed just 57.8 percent of his passes, having six touchdowns and six interceptions.
Wilks said he couldn’t pinpoint why Mayfield didn’t work out in Carolina.
“I can’t answer that question,” Wilks said. “It is so many different reasons. I wouldn’t say that he failed. I would say that it just didn’t work out. He is still a good football player. Just like coaches and just like players, sometimes they need a change.”
Panthers GM Scott Fitterer traded for Mayfield earlier this season after unsuccessfully trying to acquire Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans, and he beat out Darnold for the starting job in training camp. Darnold later injured his ankle and landed on injured reserve and only recently returned to action.
Carolina will send the Cleveland Browns a fifthround pick in 2024 as compensation.
Fitterer was not made available to reporters on Monday.
“I have nothing negative to say about Baker,” Panthers running back D’Onta Foreman said. “I think he handled the situation the right way. Even with his ups and downs you never saw him act different or have a mood change. He was always the same guy. So I respect him and wish the best for him.”
Injury updates
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said Garoppolo was still undergoing tests but that doctors now believe he might have avoided the more serious Lisfranc injury. DT Hassan Ridgeway (pec strain) will be out for six to eight weeks. S Tarvarius Moore (knee sprain) will miss a few weeks.
• Ravens coach John Harbaugh sounds doubtful about Jackson’s availability for Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh. Jackson left the 10-9 win over Denver with a knee injury. Harbaugh said after the game that it was not a season-ending type of injury.
The Dolphins placed right tackle Austin Jackson (ankle) on injured reserve and signed 2013 No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher to address injury issues along their offensive line.
• Cleveland’s linebacking corps took another major hit. Browns starter Sione Takitaki will miss the remainder of the season after tearing a knee ligament during Sunday’s win over the Texans.
Notable
The NFL will feature three current division leaders playing on Saturday, Dec. 17, highlighted by the Bills hosting the Dolphins in a prime-time showdown that could go far in determining who wins the AFC East.
The three-game Week 15 Saturday slate will open with NFC North-leading Minnesota hosting Indianapolis, followed by Cleveland hosting the Baltimore in a matchup of AFC North rivals.
The NFL also altered NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” schedule for that weekend, with Washington’s home game against the New York Giants flexed into the prime-time spot.