Healthy Mayfield 'rolling with the punches' as QB2

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Baker Mayfield, contempt being steadfast capable to play connected Sunday erstwhile the Carolina Panthers look the Atlanta Falcons, is accepting his relation arsenic the backup to journeyman backmost PJ Walker.

This volition beryllium the archetypal clip since the archetypal 3 games of his rookie play with the Cleveland Browns that the apical prime of the 2018 draught hasn't started erstwhile healthy.

"It's 1 of those things. It's 1 of those caller things,'' Mayfield said Thursday successful his archetypal interrogation since being sidelined for 2 games with a precocious ankle sprain. "You conscionable person to rotation with the punches. It's not my plan, obviously. I'm a competitor, but I'm rolling with the punches to assistance this squad retired successful immoderate mode I can.

"I came present to win. If it's my relation to assistance PJ retired from the sideline and assistance this defence retired with scout squad stuff, I'm gonna bash it. And I'm gonna bash it with everything I can.''

Mayfield added helium doesn't privation to beryllium traded earlier Tuesday's NFL deadline.

"I've spent capable times with these guys,'' Mayfield said. "I privation to beryllium here.''

Mayfield said this concern is antithetic than it was successful Cleveland successful the outpouring erstwhile helium asked to beryllium traded aft the Browns began pursuing erstwhile Houston Texans backmost Deshaun Watson.

"That's a precise antithetic scenario,'' said Mayfield, who was acquired by the Panthers successful a July trade. "They were 1-31 earlier I got there. That's precise different. I'm not going to get into that. It's not adjacent comparable situations.''

Mayfield besides admitted he's astatine a crossroads successful his vocation arsenic helium plays retired his fifth-year enactment connected his archetypal NFL contract.

"It's evidently instrumental,'' Mayfield said. "Fifth-year option. There's nary much guarantees that I'll beryllium here. So I'm conscionable trying to grip it arsenic good arsenic I perchance can, bash immoderate relation that is and bash it the champion I tin and rotation with the punches.

"I spot the opinions successful this gathering that they spot the enactment I enactment successful perpetually and I privation the squad to win. That's conscionable who I am.''

Despite the determination to spell with Walker, Mayfield besides showed enactment for interim manager Steve Wilks, who was with him successful Cleveland successful 2019 arsenic the Browns' antiaircraft coordinator.

"You've got respect that helium calls it similar helium sees it,'' Mayfield said. "He doesn't clasp back. He's transparent. That that's what it's each about.''

This volition beryllium Walker's 3rd consecutive commencement for Carolina (2-5) since Mayfield was injured successful a Week 5 nonaccomplishment to the San Francisco 49ers. One time later, manager Matt Rhule was fired.

Wilks announced Monday helium was sticking with Walker this week careless of whether Mayfield oregon seasoned Sam Darnold, besides dealing with an ankle injury, were healthy.

Mayfield, who started 59 consecutive games astatine Cleveland aft replacing Tyrod Taylor successful 2018, made it wide helium was steadfast capable to play.

"If I'm going retired determination and practicing, I tin play,'' said Mayfield, who missed 2 games for the Browns successful 2021 due to the fact that of a enarthrosis injury.

Mayfield couldn't accidental capable bully things astir Walker, a erstwhile XFL prima who began his NFL vocation successful 2017 arsenic an undrafted rookie with the Indianapolis Colts.

"I don't deliberation he's ever had that mindset helium was 4th connected the extent chart,'' Mayfield said. "PJ's a large leader. He's a large quarterback. He's a feline that's continuously stepped up successful this place. He's evidently been a fewer different spots, but helium didn't hesitate. He went successful determination and conscionable did his thing. I person a tremendous magnitude of respect for PJ arsenic a player, but much truthful arsenic a man."

Mayfield is successful a presumption of having to gain the occupation backmost for a reason. He ranked past successful the NFL successful Total QBR (15.3) during the archetypal 5 games and is connected people for vocation lows successful astir each statistical category.

Walker is 3-1 arsenic a starter -- and 1-1 this play -- since entering the league successful 2020. He had a Total QBR of 73.9 successful Sunday's 21-3 triumph implicit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, completing 16 of 22 walk attempts for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said Mayfield is handling his relation arsenic the backup well.

"Baker is Baker. Baker has nary shortage of confidence,'' McAdoo said. "He's played a batch of shot successful this league. I don't spot thing antithetic from him. He's helping retired successful immoderate mode that helium can.''

Darnold, the 2021 starter who mislaid the starting occupation successful grooming camp, said Mayfield has a "great, affirmative cognition each the time.''

"It's business,'' Darnold said. "There's nary alteration successful assemblage language, nary 1 shaking their caput successful [the backmost room]. Whatever the woody is, we recognize what it is. PJ is playing this week and we're doing the champion to assistance him.''

Wide receiver DJ Moore says Mayfield understands the business.

"I cognize helium wishes helium was the starter, but he's the backup close now,'' Moore said. "So he's going to motivate PJ the champion mode helium can.''