Mayfield starts for Panthers, Darnold tosses TD
CHARLOTTE, N.C — Baker Mayfield got the start at quarterback for the Carolina Panthers in their preseason opener at Washington, but Sam Darnold held his own.
Mayfield and Darnold are in what the Panthers call an “open” competition for the starting job.
Mayfield went 4-for-7 for 46 yards in his only drive that ended with a 41-yard field goal. His biggest mistake was a fumbled snap in the red zone (19-yard line) that left him with a third-and-14 pass he didn’t complete.
Darnold took over at the Washington 19-yard line on his first series after the defense recovered a fumble. He needed only three plays to get Carolina into the end zone, the third an 8-yard pass to wide receiver Rashard Higgins, who was one of Mayfield’s favorite receivers in Cleveland the past four seasons.
Darnold put great touch on the touchdown in an area he struggled last season. He completed just 54% of his passes in the red zone in 2021 and he had a Total Quarterback Rating of 34.
Darnold got a second series since his first was short. He threw away his only pass attempt under pressure on third down.
Mayfield started fast, completing his first two pass attempts and four of his first six to move Carolina to the 19. The drive bogged down on his fumbled snap, but overall he was in command of the offense against Washington’s first-team defense.
Mayfield and Darnold split reps with the first team in the first phase of training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, that ended on Wednesday.
Coach Matt Rhule said he won’t make a decision on his starter for Week 1 against Cleveland until after next week’s joint practices at New England and Friday’s preseason game against the Patriots.
His mantra since camp opened has been “when we know, we know.”
But Mayfield was first up in Thursday night’s FanFest at Bank of America Stadium, and now he has started the preseason opener, signs the team is leaning toward him.
Carolina acquired Mayfield last month in a trade with the Browns, who replaced the top pick of the 2018 draft with Deshaun Watson.
