Impact Walker stands to be available for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Buccaneers, but he's unlikely to see action with both Sam Darnold and Cam Newton available. He was a healthy scratch Week 16.
JANUARY 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
P.J. WALKER
Returns from COVID list Carolina activated Walker (undisclosed) from the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
NFL odds: How to bet Panthers-Saints, point spread, more
Check out the NFL odds on Panthers vs. Saints, from the point spread to the over/under and expert picks.DECEMBER 30, 2021
Panthers bench Newton, will start Darnold at QB vs. Saints
Panthers coach Matt Rhule says Sam Darnold will start at quarterback on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints instead of 2015 league MVP Cam NewtonDECEMBER 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Placed on COVID-19 list The Panthers placed Walker (undisclosed) on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Impact Walker was a healthy scratch for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, and he'll now be forced to isolate from the team. It's not yet clear whether he's tested positive for COVID-19, but he isn't guaranteed to suit up in Week 17 even if he's activated prior to Sunday.
DECEMBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Goes on inactive list Walker (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Impact After starting Week 10 against the Cardinals following Sam Darnold's (shoulder) placement on injured reserve, Walker had served as Carolina's No. 2 quarterback in each of the past four games behind Cam Newton, appearing in relief in two of those contests. With Darnold having been reinstated from IR on Saturday, however, Walker drops to third on the depth chart and is unlikely to play at any point over the Panthers' final three games, so long as both Newton and Darnold stay healthy.
DECEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Panthers' Rhule 'can't speculate' on next week's starting QB
Cam Newton’s struggles have left Matt Rhule looking for answers at quarterbackDECEMBER 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bills adopt sense of urgency in preparing to host Panthers
The Buffalo Bills are suddenly beginning to adopt a sense of urgency with their playoff chances suddenly on the line in preparing to host the Carolina Panthers on SundayDECEMBER 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bills coach McDermott rekindles Carolina ties vs former team
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Panthers' Darnold designated to return from IR, practices
The Carolina Panthers’ quarterback situation took another turn as Sam Darnold returned to practice after being designated to return from injured reserveDECEMBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Expected to be part of gameplan Coach Matt Rhule said Monday that the plan is to continue to play both Walker and Cam Newton, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Impact Walker has played exactly 15 offensive snaps in each of the last two contests, completing 50 percent of his passes for 162 passing yards, two interceptions and one touchdown. Rhule reiterated after the 29-21 loss that Cam Newton remains the starting quarterback, but he won't hesitate to give Walker a chance if the offense is struggling, which it has during the past two games. Nonetheless, as long as Newton remains in the picture, Walker's fantasy potential is hindered. Both signal-callers face an interesting test in Week 15 as the Panthers will travel to Buffalo to face a struggling Bills defense.
DECEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Huge draft day decision on horizon for Panthers: QB or OT?
The slumping Carolina Panthers appear destined to have a top 10 pick in next year’s NFL draftDECEMBER 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rhule: 'Catastrophic' turnovers haunting slumping Panthers
Every week Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule preaches to his team they have to take care of the football and not turn it overDECEMBER 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mixed bag as in-game replacement Walker took over for an ineffective Cam Newton with 6:10 remaining in the Panthers' 29-21 loss to the Falcons on Sunday and completed six of 12 passes for 75 yards with a touchdown...
Impact Walker wasn't able to fare much better than the man he replaced under center, but he did manage to lead a six-play, 51-yard scoring march late in the fourth quarter that he capped off with a five-yard touchdown pass to Robby Anderson. David Newton of ESPN.com reports coach Matt Rhule confirmed after the game that Newton is still the starter, but as was made clear Sunday, he likely won't hesitate to make a switch if things start to go south in Week 15 on the road against the Bills.
DECEMBER 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
The Latest: Allen-led comeback sends Bills to OT with Bucs
Josh Allen has almost single-handedly carried Buffalo to overtime against Tampa BayDECEMBER 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Will operate as backup Sunday Head coach Matt Rhule reiterated Wednesday that Cam Newton is the team's starting quarterback, but Walker will play if he can help the Panthers win, David Newton of ESPN.com report...
Impact Walker replaced the ineffective Newton with just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of the Panthers' Week 12 loss to the Dolphins, with Carolina training by 20 points when he checked into the contest. While operating in hurry-up mode, Walker had difficulties of his own, throwing a pick and conceding four sacks. Coming out of the bye, Newton remains the starter, but Walker will be available if the offense is stagnant once again.
DECEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Replaces Newton late Sunday Walker completed 5 of 10 passes for 87 yards and an interception in Sunday's 33-10 loss to the Dolphins.
Impact Walker replaced the ineffective Cam Newton with just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and Carolina trailing by 20 points. Operating in hurry-up mode, Walker had difficulties of his own, throwing a pick while being sacked four times. With the Panthers now entering their bye week, Newton should have more time to familiarize himself with the offense, but Walker would stand to come off the bench should Newton underwhelm again.
NOVEMBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
The Latest: Dalvin Cook out for game with shoulder injury
Minnesota Vikings running Dalvin Cook has been taken off the field on a cart with a shoulder injury is out for the remainder of the gameNOVEMBER 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Likely to remain on bench Week 12 Walker is not scheduled to play in Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Impact There had been talk that Walker would still see some snaps in Week 11's loss to Washington, but the Panthers ended up using only Cam Newton under center. Coach Matt Rhule clarified that in Week 12, the 26-year-old would only be used on an "as needed" basis.
NOVEMBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Newton stays positive after loss on 'resurrection day'
For Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, Nov_ 21 will always be his personal “resurrection day.”NOVEMBER 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Could be involved as backup Week 11 Panthers head coach Matt Rhule suggested that Walker could still have a role in the team's offensive game plan Sunday against Washington, even with Cam Newton having been named Car...
Impact Since Newton signed with Carolina late last week, he didn't have sufficient time to get fully up to speed with the new playbook and had a limited role behind P.J. Walker, who started in place of Sam Darnold (shoulder) and completed 22 of 29 passes for 167 yards and an interception while rushing three times for six yards and losing a fumble in the Panthers' 31-10 win over the Cardinals. Though Walker played 89 percent of the offensive snaps and was effective enough as a game manager, he ceded most of the high-value goal-line work to Newton, who rushed for a touchdown and threw for another across his eight snaps. Rhule didn't outline how exactly Walker will be used Week 11 as he moves into the backup role, but the coach noted that because Newton doesn't have some exposure to all aspects of the playbook, Walker could be sprinkled into the mix in select occasions. With that in mind, it wouldn't be surprising if Newton and Walker's snap shares are essentially flipped from Week 10, though Walker presumably wouldn't be deployed in goal-line situations like Newton was.
NOVEMBER 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Newton to start at QB for Panthers, Walker could still play
Panthers coach Matt Rhule says Cam Newton will start Sunday at quarterback against the Washington Football TeamNOVEMBER 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Coach Ron Rivera prepares to face his former QB Cam Newton
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Underdogs have covered at an astonishing rate this NFL season, and Week 10 was no exception. Will that trend continue?NOVEMBER 16, 2021
Likely headed for backup role Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said Monday that Cam Newton will take most of the first-team reps in practice this week, signaling that Walker will likely return to a backup role fo...
Impact After Sam Darnold (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve Friday with the expectation that he'll be sidelined for the remainder of the season, Walker stepped in for his second career start over the weekend in the Panthers' 34-10 win over the Cardinals. Though the Panthers were essentially in control of the contest from opening kickoff, Walker wasn't the solid game manager that Carolina's 24-point margin of victory implied. While he completed 22 of his 29 throws, Walker averaged a weak 5.8 yards per attempt and committed two turnovers (an interception and a lost fumble). Meanwhile, Newton -- who inked a one-year deal with Carolina on Thursday -- was eased into the game plan with a limited snap count and cashed in with a touchdown through the air and on the ground. With a full week of prep in practice, the expectation is that the veteran signal-caller will take over as the team's starter moving forward as Carolina looks to keep itself in the thick of a packed NFC playoff race.
NOVEMBER 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Panthers hope Newton can provide same jolt as a starter
Cam Newton proved he can provide the Carolina Panthers with a jolt off the bench playing in certain goal-line and short-yard packagesNOVEMBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
