Which Carolina Panthers players likely played their final game with the team during a rocky 2022 season?
Things didn’t go quite according to plan for the Carolina Panthers in 2022. A terrible start ended Matt Rhule’s time as head coach halfway through his bumper contract, with interim Steve Wilks doing a sensational job in difficult circumstances en route to restoring a sense of respectability.
The Panthers fell short of a shock divisional title within a weak NFC South. However, the optimism for further progress next season is there for all to see if the right moves are made this offseason.
Carolina’s coaching search is ongoing with the list of potential candidates decreasing this week. General manager Scott Fitterer and others will also be examining which recruits to bring in and what players are worth keeping around before free agency.
With that being said, here are five Panthers players who likely played their final game with the team in 2022.
Player No. 1
Damien Wilson – Carolina Panthers LB
There was a quiet sense of optimism surrounding Damien Wilson’s arrival in free agency. This diminished somewhat following an offseason arrest, but the Carolina Panthers kept faith with the veteran when many anticipated an early departure without playing a single snap.
Wilson’s production wasn’t up to the required standard. Had it not been for an injury to rookie linebacker Brandon Smith, the former Super Bowl winner’s second half of 2022 would have been almost anonymous.
Considering the cap savings involved by releasing Wilson with one year remaining on his deal, this looks like an easy decision for those in power.
P.J. Walker – Carolina Panthers QB
Considering how bleak things looked for P.J. Walker last spring, the fact he was still on the roster by the season’s end represents a huge achievement. The Carolina Panthers dealt with some significant injuries at the quarterback position, which left the coaching staff with no option other than to include the one-time Temple star as part of their short-term plans.
Walker was seen as an afterthought in training camp thanks to the arrivals of Matt Corral and Baker Mayfield. This left his chances of making the team remote at best before Sam Darnold and the third-round pick both sustained problems in the preseason.
There was further good news for Walker when Mayfield’s lack of production coupled with a high ankle sprain sent him to the sidelines. His performance levels were decent, especially in Week 8 when a superb display under center almost came with an unlikely victory at the Atlanta Falcons.
Again, the injury curse struck Walker at just the wrong time. This allowed Darnold another opportunity to shine and left the former XFL MVP candidate on the sidelines for the rest of the season.
Now that Matt Rhule and his ex-college coaches are no longer around, the chances of Walker getting another extension in Carolina are slim. The team needs to find a stable, long-term plan for football’s most important position, but they most likely won’t include the veteran after three seasons with the organization.
Cam Erving – Carolina Panthers OL
After a disastrous first season with the Carolina Panthers, it came as no surprise to see Cam Erving occupying a reserve role in 2022. The former first-round pick was unable to galvanize his career as the team’s starting left tackle after a surprising move in free agency, which continued the growing trend of blindside protectors that failed miserably since Jordan Gross retired.
Erving adapted well to his backup responsibilities. He evolved into a respected leader within the locker room and played a significant role in rookie Ikem Ekwonu’s outstanding adjustment for good measure.
Having solid depth across the offensive line is essential. This bears special significance for the Panthers this spring as Brady Christensen and Austin Corbett work their way back from troubling injuries.
This could mean Erving gets another short-term deal before the free-agent frenzy officially begins. However, it will be nothing like the money allocated to the Florida State product within hours of the 2021 legal tampering period getting underway.
It’s hard to see which way the Panthers will go where Erving is concerned. A new coaching staff might have their own ideas and the player himself could seek somewhere with a better chance of securing time on the field.
Shaq Thompson – Carolina Panthers LB
Now the undisputed leader within the Carolina Panthers locker room, Shaq Thompson quietly put together another outstanding season in 2022. His 135 tackles were a career-high and the fourth-straight year where he’d reached triple figures, which is a fine accomplishment all things considered.
Thompson has been more vocal than most about his desire for Steve Wilks to become permanent head coach beyond 2022. However, there’s a good chance that the former Washington star might not be around to see out the last year of his mammoth contract.
This has nothing to do with Thompson’s production. His switch onto the second-level interior was smooth, improving communication and discipline from a position that’s been crying out for stability since Luke Kuechly retired.
If it were on performance levels alone, Thompson would be leading the defense once again in 2023. However, things are rarely that simple in the NFL.
The 2015 first-round selection is set to count $24.46 million against the cap next season. This is not feasible in Carolina’s current flux, which might make Thompson a salary-cap casualty when it’s all said and done.
Cutting Thompson would save $13.16 million on their cap. Unless sentiment takes over or a short-term extension is arranged, then we might have seen the last of him in Carolina.
Sam Darnold – Carolina Panthers QB
Much like the situation with P.J. Walker, the prospects of Sam Darnold entering training camp didn’t look too promising. The Carolina Panthers traded up for Matt Corral and also secured the services of Baker Mayfield from the Cleveland Browns, which left him facing an uphill battle to remain relevant and fighting for his NFL future.
Darnold got plenty of camp reps as Matt Rhule moved forward with a quarterback competition that was deemed needless by many. When the USC product suffered a high-ankle sprain in the preseason, it wasn’t hard to see why many wrote off his chances.
Fortune favored Darnold later in the campaign when he returned to the lineup. His 2022 debut was enough for the Panthers to waive Mayfield and despite faltering in big moments down the stretch, there was far more good than bad regarding his production.
There are obvious limitations with Darnold. Something that won’t go unnoticed by any new coach or even Steve Wilks providing he’s done enough to win the job long-term.
Perhaps Darnold could return as a bridge option and mentor Corral or any new recruit from the college ranks. But would a high-profile coaching hire want to bet their immediate success on the No. 3 overall selection in 2018?
The answer to that is probably not. So don’t be surprised if Darnold’s less-than-stellar outing against the New Orleans Saints in Week 18 ends up being his final one in Carolina.