5 emergency options if the Panthers lose Sam Darnold to injury in 2021
By Dean Jones
P.J Walker – Potential Sam Darnold replacement
If Sam Darnold got injured at any stage, then P.J. Walker would be the current favorite to assume the starting role. This is something he did last season during an impressive victory against the Detroit Lions, where the former XFL star displayed the sort of exciting production under center that Teddy Bridgewater simply couldn’t manage.
Walker was less convincing in Week 17 when the Carolina Panthers finally put Bridgewater out of his misery at home to the New Orleans Saints. This leaves his long-term future up in the air with one season remaining on his deal, although he is well-liked by head coach Matt Rhule after the pair developed a close bond working together at Temple.
However, if they were absolutely convinced in Walker, the trade for Darnold wouldn’t have happened in the first place.
Hopefully, this scenario doesn’t come to fruition.
The Panthers are banking on Darnold turning things around after a torrid three years since entering the league. Complications on the injury front would be nothing short of a disaster.
Much will depend on the sort of record Carolina has at the time Darnold goes down. But they’d have nothing to lose by throwing Walker in once again and seeing how things unfold for good or bad.