Sam Darnold 'not close' to returning from preseason ankle injury

Sam Darnold is on his way back for the Panthers and is eligible to be activated off injured reserve, but there’s still a ways to go until he can return to the field.

Earlier this season, Darnold suffered a high ankle sprain in the preseason against the Buffalo Bills. Prior, he had been battling with now-starting quarterback Baker Mayfield for the job in Carolina. However, with Mayfield struggling immensely for the Panthers, many have wondered whether Darnold could return to the starting lineup.

Well, Adam Schefter of ESPN essentially screamed “Not so fast!” at Panthers fans everywhere, revealing Darnold is “still not close” to getting back on the field in Carolina.

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“Panthers’ QB Sam Darnold is now eligible to come off of injured reserve, but he’s still not close to being from the high ankle sprain he suffered in late August, per source,” tweeted Schefter. “It’s still, in the words of a source, ‘going to be a while.'”

Moreover, Darnold originally came to Carolina via trade from the New York Jets. There, he had been a first-round NFL draft pick who struggled to live up to expectations. He joined the Panthers ahead of the 2021 season, where he hoped to revitalize his career. In 12 games played, Darnold struggled. He threw only 9 touchdowns to 13 interceptions. 

This offseason, the Panthers brought in the aforementioned Mayfield, who has only completed 54.7% of his passes thus far on the season, amassing four touchdowns, three interceptions and 747 passing yards in four games. Carolina has only managed to win one game, and head coach Matt Rhule is feeling his seat get warm.

Nevertheless, it looks like Baker Mayfield will have plenty of time to right the ship, as Sam Darnold deals with rehabbing his ankle injury. Still, if the former Heisman quarterback can’t get things going by the time Darnold is ready to return, a change at quarterback could be in the cards for the Panthers.