Even though he is healthy enough to play on Sunday, Baker Mayfield is accepting his role as the backup to journeyman quarterback PJ Walker.
This will be the first time since the first three games of his debut season that he won't start.
One of those things. It's one of the new things that I've never heard of before. You just have to keep fighting. It isn't my plan. I'm a competitor but I'm rolling with the punches to help this team.
I wanted to win. If it's my job to help PJ out from the sideline and help this defense out with scout team stuff, I'll do it. I'm going to do it with all I have.
He doesn't want to be moved before the deadline.
"I've spent a lot of time with them.'' I would like to be here.
When he asked to be traded from Cleveland, he said the situation was different than it is now.
"That's a very different scenario, that's what I'm talking about,'' he said. Before I got there, they were 1-31. It is very different. I won't get into that. It's not like that.
He admitted that he is at a crossroads in his career as he plays out his fifth year option on his initial NFL contract.
It's obviously important. The fifth-year option is available. I can't say that I'll be here. I'm trying to handle it as well as possible, do whatever role I can, and roll with the punches.
I trust the opinions of the people in this building because I want the team to win. I'm just who I am.
In spite of the decision to go with Walker, he also showed support for the interim coach who was with him in Cleveland.
He calls it like he sees it. He doesn't give up. He's not hiding anything. It's all about that.
This will be Walker's third straight start for Carolina since the injury to quarterback Baker Mayfield. On the same day, Matt Rhule was let go.
Regardless of whether Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield were healthy, Walker was going to stay.
He made it clear that he was healthy enough to play.
"If I'm out there practicing, I can play,'' said the quarterback, who missed two games in his first season with the team because of a shoulder injury.
He couldn't say enough good things about Walker, a former XFL star who was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the draft.
He was fourth on the depth chart. PJ is a good leader. He is a good quarterback. He's been stepping up in this place for a long time. He didn't hesitate even though he had been a few other places. He just did what he was told to do. I have a lot of respect for PJ as a man.
He has to earn the job back in order to keep it. He is on target for career lows in almost every statistical category, despite ranking last in the NFL in Total QBR during the first five games.
Since entering the league in 2020, Walker has been a starter and a loser. He completed 16 of 22 pass attempts for 178 yards and two touchdown in the victory.
He is handling his role as the backup well.
Baker is a person. There is no shortage of confidence in the baker. He's been in this league for a long time. I don't think he's different from me. He's doing whatever he can to help out.
The man who lost the starting job in training camp said that the guy has a good attitude.
"It's business.'' No one shook their head in the quarterback room. We know what the deal is. We're doing everything we can to help PJ.
DJ Moore said that he understood the business.
He is the backup right now, but he would love to be the starter. He will motivate PJ the best way he can.
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