What are the keys behind Panthers QB P.J. Walker’s recent success?

What are the keys behind Carolina Panthers quarterback P.J. Walker’s recent success after being installed as the team’s starter?

There’s a newfound enthusiasm and urgency within the Carolina Panthers since Matt Rhule’s shackles across the organization were lifted by team owner David Tepper. This is a fun team to watch again despite suffering two more defeats since the former Baylor man was fired, which has also coincided with P.J. Walker assuming command of the starting quarterback role.

This came by default initially with Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield both dealing with injuries. However, Walker deserves an enormous amount of credit for seizing the opportunity and winning the job outright on a week-to-week basis.

There didn’t appear to be that much confidence in Walker during Carolina’s defeat at the Los Angeles Rams. Things have progressed significantly over the last fortnight, with Ben McAdoo’s play-calling also coming with increased creativity without the cloud of Rhule hanging over the offensive coordinator.

P.J. Walker’s confidence in his ability to lead the Carolina Panthers

Walker’s performances leave many reasons for encouragement. The one-time Temple star also showed plenty of resilience to overcome a sluggish start in Week 8 to almost propel the Panthers to first place in the NFC South before a cruel overtime defeat.

Steve Wilks wasted no time in naming Walker as the starter this weekend at the Cincinnati Bengals. But the player isn’t getting too carried away, opting to focus on what brought him here after emerging from a training camp afterthought to the No. 1 option.

"“Just going out there, playing my game, knowing the coaches trust me, knowing my teammates trust me; that’s really it. Just going out there and not worrying about making mistakes. Just going out there, playing football.”"

This extra sense of freedom is allowing Walker to flourish. He’s an easy guy to root for and is also winning around teammates with big-time throws that were seldom seen with Mayfield manning the plate earlier in the campaign.

There’s a lot of football left. And one only has to look at Walker’s inconsistencies overall since joining the Panthers to see where things could go wrong.

But as Wilks stated, handling the situation rather than worrying about the bigger picture has been a critical part of Walker’s approach. Something that’s bringing quality rewards.

"“I think anything in life is all about time. We’ve seen over the last couple of weeks that with (Walker) putting the time in, with us as coaches giving him the opportunity to be able to perform with the game plan, he’s shown that he can handle certain things. I’m very pleased.”"

Nobody knows what to expect from Walker or the Panthers in Week 9. The Bengals pose a huge threat despite missing some key figures, but this unpredictability could end up working in their favor if opposing teams keep writing off the ex-XFL MVP candidate.

If it doesn’t work out, then Mayfield might get the chance to prove his early-season mishaps were a product of Rhule’s management rather than his play. Carolina could also be in a strong position to land someone like Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud during the 2023 NFL Draft.

Concerning himself with future job prospects should be the last thing on Walker’s mind right now. If the tape is good and his personality continues to shine, then a short-term extension with the Panthers or elsewhere is almost guaranteed.

And that is the sort of feel-good story everyone can get behind.