Panthers aren’t committing to PJ Walker as starter for rest of 2022 season

The Carolina Panthers offense looks better than it has all season, and it’s not even close. Yet, they still don’t seem certain about who will definitely be under center beyond this weekend.

Following Wednesday’s practice, interim head coach Steve Wilks again confirmed that quarterback PJ Walker—who has started the last three games—will get the nod against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9. He couldn’t, however, commit beyond that.

“My philosophy, you guys have heard this, is about winning today,” Wilks said when asked if Walker will be the starter for the rest of the season. “And that’s just really staying with the day-to-day operation with each week. So I can’t really go beyond this week and tell you exactly what’s gonna happen next week. So, just staying in the moment with Cincinnati, and PJ’s the starter this week.”

Since replacing an injured Baker Mayfield with Walker, the Panthers have gone 1-2 while experiencing their two cleanest offensive performances of the year. After helping top the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7, Walker threw for a career-high 317 yards on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons—leading Carolina to their highest point total (34) since Week 10 of 2021.

Mayfield and Sam Darnold, who is still nursing a high-ankle sprain, will presumably remain as factors in the conversation as 2022 rolls on.