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The Carolina Panthers are giving their top two quarterbacks plenty of time to win starting jobs.
Head coach Matt Rule told reporters after Saturday’s Panthers scrimmage that a decision between Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield won’t be made until after at least two preseason games.
“Timetables for quarterback positions will not be provided until the quarterback has returned.” [New England] Patriots week,” Rule said via ESPN.
“Patriots week is a true litmus test for us. It will really show where we are.”
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The Panthers will play New England on August 19th.
Mayfield started scrimmage on the first team, but each QB took the same rep as the first and second teams. Mayfield went 14-for-21 with touchdowns and interceptions, while Darnold completed 20 of 28 passes for scoring and picks.
Leaving the team on Sunday, Rule said coaches would “really dig into the tapes to see who’s really mastered the offense and who’s not.”
Browns agree to trade Baker Mayfield to Panthers
The Panthers traded to the New York Jets for Darnold last year and gave up a good chunk to get him. Waived a round pick and a 2022 fourth-round pick.
Darnold beat his former team in Week 1 of last season, going 3-1, throwing for nearly 1,200 yards and scoring five touchdowns. But in his final eight, he threw just four TDs, was picked off ten times, and gained just 1,338 yards.
As for Mayfield, the Panthers acquired him this offseason after the Cleveland Browns traded him for Deshawn Watson. Last season, Mayfield failed to throw 20 touchdowns for the first time and barely broke 3,000 yards, his 3,010 passing yards was his career low. The Panthers waived Mayfield’s conditional 2024 fifth-round pick.
The Panthers have given up two QBs with four draft picks in two offseasons, and it’s unclear which will start.
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Mayfield was the first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and Darnold was a two-time pick.