The Carolina Panthers have officially announced that Baker Mayfield will be their starting quarterback for Week 1 of the 2022 regular season, as the Panthers are set to take on the Cleveland Browns on September 11th.
Mayfield beat our veteran Sam Darnold, who was the Panthers starter to open the 2021 season, but many suggested that after the Panthers acquired Mayfield in a trade with the Browns that is was Mayfield’s job to lose.
“When we started the process, we said we were looking at three things,” Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said, according to ESPN’s David Newton. “No. 1, mastery of the offense; No. 2, situational football excellence; and No. 3, moving the ball and getting guys involved.
“Baker has made a lot of improvement, a lot of growth in all three areas in a short amount of time.”
Mayfield spoke about the Panthers decision on who would be the starter last week, saying he wasn’t too worred.
“I’ve said it before, the locker room and the organization is going to go as the QB room goes, and as long as we’re leading correctly and we’re supporting each other, good things are going to happen,” Mayfield said. “So we’re not worried about when that’s going to happen, just trying to get better each day.”
“It’s not a redemption year,” he continued. “I know what I’m capable of. I’m not trying to prove anything to anybody else. I’m just trying to lead this locker room the best I can and win a bunch of ballgames.”
“Baker since he’s been here in the last two weeks, it’s been pretty impressive,” Browns offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said. “One of his strengths is command. He can lead a room, he can command a room, he can command an offense. He has a good presence about him. And, you know, he’s got a fire in his guts.”
