Panthers release Baker Mayfield

The Carolina Panthers are ending the Baker Mayfield experiment. Mayfield asked the team for his release on Monday morning, and the team promptly granted it. Sam Darnold appears to be the clear-cut starter from now on, with PJ Walker in the wings. Mayfield was set to become a free agent in 2023, so there is no sense in keeping him around.

The Cleveland Browns traded Mayfield to the Panthers for a 2024 conditional fifth-round pick and a salary agreement after acquiring alleged predator Deshaun Watson.

As for a new home, the top choice obviously points to the San Francisco 49ers, having lost starter Jimmy Garoppolo on Sunday to a broken foot. Other teams who could be interested (in my opinion) who could use a quarterback include Houston, New England, Indianapolis, New Orleans, or the Los Angeles Rams.

Sources: The #Panthers are expected to release QB Baker Mayfield. He'll hit waivers when it's finalized later today.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 5, 2022

more Qb news:

• Joe Burrow went 25-for-31, 286 yards, and two touchdowns on Sunday, resulting in a big "fuck you" win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Although he started the 2022 season a little shaky, Burrow and company are putting things together at precisely the right time. Head coach Zac Taylor said after the game, "He's playing at the level we need for him to lead us to be confident that we can go win every game we play."
  
  • On his side of things, Patrick Mahomes gave total credit to Cincinnati. "First off, they have a great quarterback - a guy that's won a lot of football games...They're well coached, have a good defense, and at the end of the day, they've executed at a higher level in critical situations."
    

• The worst news of the day by far came with the loss of Jimmy Garoppolo on Sunday, as he left the game with a broken foot. When asked what the loss will mean to the San Francisco 49ers from now on, running back Christian McCaffrey said, "It's brutal. I haven't been around a long time here, but I can't say enough good things about him... from a leadership standpoint, from the way he operates, his attitude on a daily basis."
  

• Lamar Jackson left Sunday's game with a knee injury, leading Tyler Huntley to get the win (sort of) for the Baltimore Ravens. And it seems like he will have to do it again, at least for next week. Tight end Mark Andrews spoke about Huntley's poise and preparation for going into the starting role. "He was acting like he's been there before, which he has. So, just so much love and respect for his game and what he's able to do."
  • The Baltimore Ravens signed Brett Hundley to their practice squad, with Lamar Jackson's injury looming.
    
  • John Harbaugh told reporters on Monday that Jackson is unlikely to play in Week 14 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.
    

#Ravens coach John Harbaugh said QB Lamar Jackson (knee) is unlikely to play Sunday vs. the #Steelers: "I would say it's kind of week to week. ... It's probably less likely for this week, but it's not impossible. And then after that it'll become more and more likely."

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 5, 2022

• It turns out the Jacksonville Jaguars weren't able to build off last week's game-winning drive against the Ravens. Instead, the Jags made Jared Goff look like Joe Montana. On the loss, Trevor Lawrence said: "I mean, that's the word to describe it; it's embarrassing. Everybody in that locker room feels that way too. I mean, this is a playoff game for us, and we go out there and laid down."
  

• Robert Saleh said Mike White will start again in Week 14 for the New York Jets. Joe Flacco will be the backup and Zach Wilson will be inactive.
  

• John Wolford was estimated as a non-participant in practice on Monday.