Unless Baker Mayfield beats the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, his days as the Panthers’ starting quarterback are numbered.
Literally.
If Mayfield plays more than 70% of Carolina’s snaps this season then the conditional fifth-round pick the Panthers traded to the Cleveland Browns becomes a fourth-rounder. Mayfield has played 54% of the Panthers’ 582 total snaps through 10 weeks.
Keeping that number under 70% should be required for Carolina unless playing Mayfield best positions the Panthers for a second-half playoff run. Carolina (3-7) is two games behind the NFC South-leading Buccaneers. The Panthers are the only team in the division without a division loss. Carolina does not have another NFC South game until Week 17.
Mayfield is focused on Sunday’s game in Baltimore.
“It’s pretty important to win, considering we’re still in a division race,” Mayfield said Wednesday. “That’s where I’m at. I’m not worried about everything else. It’ll take care of itself as long as I do my job. We’ll see where it goes.”
The Panthers opened as 13-point underdogs at Baltimore. The Ravens (6-3) hold a one-game lead on the Bengals in the AFC North and are widely considered Super Bowl contenders.
Mayfield said he’ll see where it goes, which is exactly how interim Steve Wilks is operating as well. The Panthers have played two quarterbacks this season. Mayfield started the first five games before sustaining a high ankle sprain against the 49ers. Walker started the next five games but endured his own high ankle sprain against Atlanta last week.
Re-enter Mayfield, who has a career 3-5 record against Baltimore. All eight of those starts came against defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who is now with the Giants. Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, however, runs a similar scheme to what the Ravens have used against Mayfield.
The Ravens blitz far less under Macdonald but are still an opportunistic and turnover-generating team. Baltimore’s 17 takeaways are tied for third-most in the league. Their plus-seven takeaway differential is also third best.
Mayfield’s path to starting consecutive games starts with winning the turnover battle. But even if he does that and Carolina still loses, it’s unclear who the team would start in Week 12.
Sam Darnold is expected to be active for the first time this season. He will back up Mayfield. Eventually, the team would like to see Darnold start, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.
The team’s No. 1 focus is making the playoffs. After that, accurately identifying a backup quarterback for next season is a top priority. Carolina understands what PJ Walker brings. Depending on how Mayfield plays, he likely would not be interested in a future backup role.
That leaves Darnold as a possible veteran presence for a quarterback room that could feature Matt Corral and a first-round rookie come June minicamp.
The team would rather Darnold see some regular-season action in a relief role before starting later this season.
“I think it’s trying to pick and choose the flow of the game,” Wilks said. “It’s something I mentioned to those guys the other day with Baker. If it happens, just giving him a warning that, ‘I’m not pulling you, I just want to get Sam some opportunities.’ Because the first time that he goes in there (as a starter), I don’t want it to be the first time. I want to be able to get him acclimated a little bit to the speed of the game.”
Which could leave Walker as the odd quarterback out, again. Like Mayfield, he lost his starting spot due to injury, not performance. He’s likely facing a multiple-week recovery. Walker was in a walking boot this week.
Barring a turnover spree, Mayfield should be the favorite to start next week when the Panthers host Denver. But after the Week 13 bye, starting Darnold would make sense if Mayfield does not win either game.
Special teams standouts Sam Franklin, Eddy Piñeiro
Panthers special coordinator Chris Tabor didn’t hesitate when nominating safety Sam Franklin for the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl.
“When you watch the tape, Sam is someone who plays relentlessly. Then when you watch him block and he’s being a complete player,” Tabor said. He is playing at a high level.”
Franklin’s 10 special teams tackles this season are tied for third in the league, behind Tennessee’s Hassan Haskins (12) and Jacksonville’s Andrew Wingard (11).
His energy is a must on special teams. But Franklin parlays his attacking mindset with his rangy combination of height and length (He is listed at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds). He’s difficult to block, making him a natural disruptor in punt or kick coverage.
Punter Johnny Hekker gives Franklin long balls to chase down. Hekker is top three in punt attempts per game and ranks seventh in average distance.
Tabor said what is most impressive about working with the all-decade punter is learning alongside him. During training camp, Tabor let Hekker install a kickoff package to the rookies. Hekker knew every assignment despite never playing on the kickoff team.
Then there is kicker Eddie Piñeiro, who has rebounded since his nightmare performance at Atlanta. Tabor said the team missing two chances to beat the Falcons taught them a valuable lesson.
“When he missed the kicks I got back on the plane and was excited. I said ‘Here we go. We just hit adversity,’” Tabor said. “I believe if you handle adversity right then it will buy you a ticket to where you thought you could never go.”
Piñeiro leads the Panthers in points scored. His 70 points are the ninth most in the league. Browns running back Nick Chubb is the highest-ranked non-kicker on the list with 68.
Special teams could swing Sunday’s game. The Ravens feature the game’s best kicker in Justin Tucker. Tabor called Ravens’ returner and wide receiver Devin Duvernay “the game’s best returner.”
