Panthers HC has Faith In QB, Despite Early Season Struggles

The Carolina Panthers have not began their 2022-23 campaign to a great start, to say the least.

After their loss to the Arizona Cardinals this past Sunday they moved to a record of 1-3 and head coach Matt Rhule was asked by reporters on Monday if he believes quarterback Baker Mayfield is their right answer behind center.

I think Baker is our quarterback.

Rhule answered the question with somewhat of a hesitation because he didn't state his feelings with much of a conviction, but he may be right for having possible internal doubts due to the struggles his quarterback has encountered thus far.

Mayfield, the former No.1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, has only completed 54.7 percent of his passes with an average yards per attempt of 6.4, which ranks 26th in the league. He has completed four touchdown passes against three interceptions and a passer rating of 75.0, which only ranks behind Chicago Bears' Justin Fields, and Pittsburgh Steelers' Mitchell Trubisky, who was just benched for backup quarterback Kenny Pickett this past Sunday.

Fortunately for Mayfield, the chance of a benching is slim due to the current depletion of the quarterback room in Carolina.

Sam Darnold continues to rehab a high-ankle sprain he sustained during the preseason and rookie Matt Corral, who was drafted as a third-rounder this year, was placed on season-ending IR after suffering a significant Lisfranc foot injury in August.

It also might be worthy to note that Mayfield reduced his 17-game guaranteed salary in Cleveland from $19.9 million to $15.358 million in order to fit a trade this past summer to the Panthers and so far has performed nowhere close to a potential new contract in Carolina, or maybe anywhere else.