All NFL teams made their selections for their first active rosters yesterday. Sending some back on the journey to their dream, and some are getting to taste it for the final time.
The Carolina Panthers chose to keep former Houston Roughnecks QB PJ Walker as their QB2 heading into Week 1 over their former 3rd-round pick Will Grier.
The choice is a little interesting, if only that Grier plays a style more like QB1 Sam Darnold does. The idea is to keep the offense as close to the same as possible if a change has to be made.
That’s not to say anything negative about Walker. He can sit in the pocket, make reads, and go through progressions. But he’s also mobile, and can add to the gameplan.
Grier was chosen 100th overall in 2019 out of West Virginia. He started the final 2 games of that year when QB1 Cam Newton, and QB2 Taylor Heinicke, were both injured. He went 0-2 with 4 INTs and no TDs.
The biggest knock on Walker from Panthers fans is whether he can protect the ball if he has to be shoved into play by an injury to Darnold. He did have 4 INTs as well last year in games where he didn’t start.
PJ was 1-0 with 258 yards passing, 1 TD, 2 INTs in the game where he was the starter for the whole week.
The hope out of Carolina is to keep Grier on the practice squad if he clears waivers.
Walker played for Panthers HC Matt Rhule at Temple, so the coach is well aware of the weapon he has with Walker. And who knows how Darnold is going to work out.
Congrats to PJ. One step closer to fulfilling his dream.
