3 winners and 3 losers from the Carolina Panthers initial 53-man roster

P.J. Walker – Carolina Panthers QB

After sticking with three quarterbacks a year ago, the backup battle was another leading headline of the Carolina Panthers offseason. And this year, they chose to stick with only one, giving the job to P.J. Walker.

With 2019 draft pick Will Grier being cut, Walker officially won the backup job behind Sam Darnold, even if there were some fans questioning whether it was the right decision.

It was a very tight battle throughout the preseason with both Walker and Grier showing flashes of potential. Ultimately, the former XFL MVP candidate’s history with Matt Rhule at Temple might have landed him the roster spot.

There was frankly no reason for Carolina to keep three signal-callers on the roster again, and with Grier being claimed by the Dallas Cowboys, Walker won’t even have to worry about him being called up.

The Panthers did sign James Morgan to be the practice squad quarterback, who is seen as a development project with little hope of starting anytime soon.

With the potential of COVID quarantines, the need for a solid backup quarterback is even greater nowadays and Walker will have first shot behind Darnold. Although with the USC product fully vaccinated along with the majority of Carolina’s other players, this should mean complications are kept to a minimum.