Sam Darnold‘s promising start in Carolina has morphed into another tough season for the former top-three pick. And Darnold’s season will now involve an IR stint.
The shoulder injury Darnold is battling will sideline him for at least three games. Darnold suffered a partially fractured right scapula, Joe Person of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Although this IR stint only requires a three-game absence, Matt Rhule said Wednesday a four- to six-week hiatus should be expected.
While this injury is new, Darnold missing time is not. The 2018 draftee missed at least three games in his first three seasons. This shoulder setback will extend that streak to four. It comes after a brutal stretch for the ex-Jet, who now has an NFL-high 11 interceptions. The Panthers have lost five of their past six games, with Darnold having been benched in Week 7 and left in Week 8 due to injury. Attempting to play through pain in Week 9, Darnold threw three more INTs in a one-sided loss to the Patriots. While Darnold left the Falcons game due to injury, Rhule said he suffered this shoulder malady in the second quarter against the Pats.
The Panthers have P.J. Walker in place as Darnold’s backup and signed Matt Barkley this week. Walker is in line to start. While Walker excelled in the XFL’s abbreviated 2020 season, he could not stick with an NFL team prior to that XFL showing. He has one NFL start to his credit — a win over the Lions last season. Walker was 3 of 14 after replacing Darnold against the Giants earlier this season.
Carolina traded second-, fourth- and sixth-round picks for Darnold and picked up his fully guaranteed 2022 option, which is worth more than $18MM. But the team will likely again shop for a new quarterback next year.
Praying for Sam so hard right now.
BB ruined this kids life
Honestly he hasn’t been the same since he was caught giving Luke Joeckel the Cambodian creamsicle.
$18M next season plus what is ahead of him even at backup money says he will be just fine. I don’t think his life is ruined and other people probably need those prayers way more right now. Just saying.
Is “Scapula” Latin for “Sucks”?
Maybe Darnold will improve with a full offseason in this offense, but he’s really fallen off a cliff since the hot start to the season. Whomever Carolina does start, though, will definitely look better with McCaffery back in the huddle. Robbie Anderson also has been atrocious.
It’s really too early to jettison Darnold after spending a second rounder acquiring him, but Carolina really needs to hope that he gets his feet under him and plays better in this offense. If it’s all based around McCaffery back, it’s too single player centric to take comfort in-Darnold needs to be better, and/or Anderson and the playcalling need to be more adaptive to him. I’d say it’s a bit of both.
I appreciate the glass half full sentiment. However, it seems that the Panthers are quick to move away from QBs that they do not see as a Franchise QB. I know they only have done it with Bridgewater thus far, who was performing better than Darnold, and yet they gave up on him 1 year into the deal.
Yep. I think we can close the books on another USC phenom QB. Interesting that Matt Barkley was the QB they signed to take his place on the roster.
This guy has been so bad lately he can’t even complete a fracture