4 players the Carolina Panthers must lean on in Week 10 vs. Falcons

PJ Walker – Carolina Panthers QB

Let’s just get the obvious out of the way first. No matter how anyone else plays in this game, it will live and die on the shoulders of P.J. Walker.

Many fans, including myself, expected the Carolina Panthers to go back with Baker Mayfield and ride out the season after Walker was benched on Sunday. But that doesn’t seem to be the case as the fourth-stringer turned starter was given at least one more game to prove himself.

Walker had an impressive performance against the Atlanta Falcons just a couple of weeks ago. One that got the NFL world talking about the former Temple standout as a starting-caliber player.

However, those hopes were dashed in Week 9.

For a player that wasn’t even supposed to make the roster, Walker has performed well above expectations, Week 9 notwithstanding. Most backup quarterbacks in the league are like this though – they can come in and perform well in short spurts until NFL defenses are able to adjust and adapt.

There is a reason Walker is a backup. However, there is talent there.

This shows up in some spectacular flashes that leave fans wishing for consistency. Like the touchdown pass to D.J. Moore that should have won the game in Week 8 – one of the most impressive passes in recent NFL memory.

Walker has to perform to the potential consistently and not make the same mistakes that dug the team a hole that the Panthers couldn’t claw their way out of.