Sam Darnold benched by Carolina Panthers in MetLife return as P.J. Walker takes over

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Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold was benched early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 25-3 loss to the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.

“Just felt like we desired somewhat of a spark,” coach Matt Rhule stated of the quarterback adjust. “Sam will be our quarterback next week. He will be our quarterback going forward.”

The choice arrived 4 days immediately after Rhule explained he had “purchased in” on Darnold as his quarterback when requested about the alternatives of Carolina pursuing a trade for Houston’s Deshaun Watson.

“I imagine Sam is going to be a wonderful quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, and I haven’t done any perform on any one else,” Rhule claimed Thursday on a convention connect with with Giants beat writers. “He is my concentrate, and I expect him to engage in his greatest soccer relocating ahead.

“I am not looking anywhere else.”

Rhule turned to backup P.J. Walker with 12:41 remaining Sunday and Carolina trailing 15-3. Darnold had an intentional grounding penalty from the stop zone in the initial half that resulted in a security. He also had an interception in close proximity to the New York target line on a badly thrown ball.

It was his seventh interception in the previous four video games soon after throwing only three in Carolina’s 3- start. Sunday’s loss dropped the Panthers to 3-4.

“Throwing on time, having the open up receiver, getting patient, shielding the soccer, not throwing off his back foot,” Rhule stated of what has been distinctive about Darnold the past four games. “He experienced some times on 3rd down exactly where guys were open up. We are predetermining the thinking. Yet again, I can have an understanding of young quarterbacks go by way of that. We are definitely not coaching Sam properly enough.

“This just isn’t about Sam. We desired more from the operate match. We desired some explosive plays. We desired some large catches.”

Darnold was 9-of-18 for 52 yards and the interception in opposition to typical strain, in accordance to ESPN Stats & Information exploration. He entered the game with a 61% completion proportion on these plays, next worst between qualifying quarterbacks.

“I have been on history,” Rhule stated. “Quarterbacks go through ups and downs. Sam’s acquired to acquire treatment of the football. Sam’s obtained to throw on time. If it truly is not there, he is got to discover a checkdown. We are unable to be driving with a likelihood to choose the guide and toss an interception.

“His sense of urgency this week, I hope to be heightened.”

Sunday’s game was Darnold’s first video game at MetLife Stadium after he invested the very first 3 seasons of his NFL occupation with the New York Jets, who traded him to the Panthers this offseason. He was 8-11 at MetLife with the Jets.

Rhule reported he by no means would like to embarrass any participant, but just felt Darnold experienced arrived at the “tipping” position the place a adjust required to transpire.

Questioned if he was humiliated, Darnold reported: “When you get to that level, finding pulled, I just internalize it. Honestly, it really is additional of people situations where it is what it is. He thought at the time that would deliver a spark placing P.J. in there.”

Walker finished 3-of-14 for 33 yards and also experienced a person run for 13 yards for the duration of his time in the recreation.

Rhule will not assume Sunday’s determination on Darnold to change how the Panthers tactic the trade deadline on Nov. 2 in phrases of wanting for another quarterback.

“I can not search to the foreseeable future, but I will not believe it will,” he explained. “Absolutely everyone is disappointed now. You will find feelings flying all over. You saw the video game. It was not very good in several regards.”

The Panthers, according to league sources, ended up interested in Watson just before the quarterback’s legal troubles. He has 22 energetic lawsuits filed versus him with allegations of sexual assault or sexually inappropriate habits through therapeutic massage sessions.

League sources claimed the Panthers are not presently pursuing Watson, with the Texans asking for at the very least a few initially-spherical picks for the previous Clemson star.

Rhule reiterated his focus is on acquiring Darnold ready for Atlanta up coming 7 days.

“We are not successful right now,” he reported. “It really is likely to consider all of us. He just needs a great deal of enable from a lot of guys appropriate now that he is not acquiring. I see the very good moments, too. We’re likely to retain coaching him.”