Carolina Panthers: Matt Rhule reveals team's quarterback plan for first preseason game

If you were wanting a clear-cut decision on who will be starting under center for the Carolina Panthers during Week One, their first preseason game won’t be any indication of where the Panthers brass is on a decision regarding his starting quarterback.

“Yeah, we won’t announce that yet, but we know each guy is going to get a series, so we’re going to play a lot of our starters,” Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said. “I don’t know if 8-10-12-15 plays depending how the series goes, so I will play each quarterback for one series and then kind of get those guys out and play the rest of the guys for the rest of the game.”

The current competition in Carolina – recently traded Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold entering his second full season on the Panthers’ roster since being traded from the Jets.

Mayfield and Darnold were the No. 1 and No. 3 picks, respectively, in the 2018 NFL Draft. Now both find themselves on different teams than the ones that drafted them, as Mayfield began his career on the Browns and Darnold with the New York Jets.

It’s safe to say that winning this competition would be a chance for either player to prove himself after a disappointing ending with their original franchise. For Mayfield, that ended this offseason with Cleveland questioning his maturity and him ultimately requesting a trade. Darnold has already spent a year in Carolina after being traded to the Panthers last offseason. 

Although Darnold got off to a quick start over the first few weeks of last season, he struggled as the year went on. Injuries played a part, but he certainly didn’t do himself any favors by throwing for 13 interceptions to just nine touchdowns. If he is going to beat out Mayfield to win the Panthers quarterback competition, he’ll need to prove in camp that he has gotten better at taking care of the ball.

Carolina is set to kick off their 2022 regular season on Sept. 11 at home against the Cleveland Browns. Though, before they get there, they’ll have to get through the preseason. The Panthers first matchup comes against the Washington Commanders on Sat. Aug. 13 at 1 p.m. ET.