CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers trainer Matt Rhule did not need to speak about if he’d believe benching quarterback Baker Mayfield earlier than subsequent week’s sport towards the Los Angeles Rams, however a left ankle damage may just take the verdict out of his palms.
Mayfield injured the ankle overdue in the primary part when a participant fell on it. He limped into the locker room with 11 seconds left and performed maximum of the second one part earlier than former XFL big name PJ Walker got here on to complete the 37-15 loss to the San Francisco 49ers that left Carolina with a 1-4 report.
Mayfield used to be dressed in a strolling boot when he met with newshounds.
“A little painful right now,” Mayfield said of the injury. “I’m no longer actual certain precisely what it’s. We’ll read about that the next day and to find out. So at the moment I’m managing the ache and studying to step in the boot.”
Mayfield entered the sport with a fifteen.3 Total QBR that ranked final in the NFL and used to be the second one worst via any quarterback in the primary 4 video games of a season since ESPN started monitoring the stat in 2006.
He had a 25.5 Total QBR on Sunday, going 20-of-26 for 215 yards passing without a touchdowns and an interception returned for a landing overdue in the primary part that Rhule known as a “punch in the gut.”
Mayfield’s 16.8 Total QBR is now the second worst by a quarterback in the first five games, ahead only of JaMarcus Russell in 2008 for the Raiders.
Should Mayfield not be available for the Rams the Panthers likely would turn to Walker, who was 5-for-6 for 60 yards in what Rhule called “mop-up responsibility.”
Walker is 2-0 as a starter for Carolina.
Sam Darnold, the 2021 starter, stays on injured reserve with an ankle damage suffered in overdue August in spite of being eligible at this level to return off it. Rhule has indicated Darnold may not be able for some time.
When Mayfield’s activity safety used to be wondered Sunday, the primary pick out of the 2018 draft fired again, “Did you question my job, because I’m not [questioning it].”
“I’m assured with the place I’m at,” added Mayfield, obtained via Carolina in a July industry with the Cleveland Browns. “I haven’t played well enough, obviously. There’s a lot of ball left. We have to get it fixed. That’s how I’m wired. I don’t live in the past. I live in the moment. Figure it out and move forward.”
Mayfield’s immediate job security may have more to do with his ankle than his play even though he’s on pace for career lows in almost every statistical category.
The Panthers entered Sunday with the NFL’s 32nd-ranked offense and did little to change that with only 308 yards and 15 points against San Francisco’s top-ranked defense.
“We’re no longer going to win except we ranking extra issues,” Rhule mentioned. “I think we all know that. But in terms of terms of a complete [overhaul] I don’t know if that is the answer.”
Rhule’s job security also continued to be questioned. The Panthers lost for the 11th time in 12 games dating back to last season to fall to 11-27 under the third-year coach.
Mayfield and other players said Rhule isn’t the problem.
“We’re nice in that locker room in the case of that,” Mayfield mentioned. (*6*)We simply need to make performs. We have excellent gamers. We need to be higher.”