The Carolina Panthers patience is wearing thin on Sam Darnold, getting to a point where a quarterback change seems to be coming sooner rather than later. Darnold had another lackluster performance in Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots, finishing 16 of 33 for 172 yards and three interceptions — raising even more questions regarding his future as the team’s starting quarterback.
When Panthers head coach Matt Rhule was asked if Darnold gave him the best opportunity to win, the answer wasn’t a resounding yes.
“I’ll watch the tape before I make some big statement. To be quite honest, I want to make sure I see everything and consider all factors,” Rhule said after Sunday’s loss. “I know Sam prepared hard. I thought he went out there and I thought he showed toughness. He gritted to the end so I don’t want to lay anything at his feet.
“We can’t have a quarterback throwing the ball up in the air. He knows that. I know that. Whether we have to get with the coaches and figure out is it the coaching, is it him, what is it? We just can’t keep doing this. But I have to see everything before I can probably answer that better.”
Darnold is tied for the NFL lead with 11 interceptions, including 10 in his last six games. His three interceptions came on three straight drives in the second half, which led to 10 New England points. Once Darnold threw his third interception, Panthers wide receiver Robby Anderson clearly was frustrated at his quarterback, yelling at him and throwing his helmet in frustration.
“That’s what comes with it. I know that they are most likely going to catch that so it’s not anything I’m hiding from them or nothing like that,” Anderson said. “I’m very passionate. This game means the world to me and I put my all in it just like everybody in this locker room does. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I know this game isn’t going to last forever, so when things don’t go in the right direction it hurts because you only get to live this dream one time.”
Darnold had a case to be benched again this week, but Rhule wanted his quarterback to “play his way out of it.” That didn’t happen as the turnovers kept getting worse for Darnold, who took full responsibility for the second half ineptitude on offense.
“I mean I can’t turn the ball over. That’s one thing that any coach would tell you,” Darnold said. “I have to stop turning the ball over. As far as I know I am the starting quarterback, so I am going to continue to play and continue to give it my all for this team.”
