Baker Mayfield’s first time with the Carolina Panthers is not likely the way any individual may well have expected it to. 

For the duration of a press conference with reporters on Monday, interim head coach Steve Wilks was explicitly questioned if the starting up position would nevertheless be Mayfield’s as soon as he returns to the lineup soon after struggling a superior ankle sprain in the Panthers' Week 5 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. 

Baker Mayfield, #6 of the Carolina Panthers, appears to throw the ball in the course of the second 50 % from the San Francisco 49ers at Financial institution of The us Stadium on Oct. 9, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina.  (Eakin Howard/Getty Pictures)

His reaction? No guarantees. 

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"I are not able to give you that solution,'' Wilks stated bluntly. "But I can notify you proper now individuals fellas [in the quarterback room] are likely to contend at that placement just as very well as other positions to see who accurately goes out there on Sunday."

Carolina’s quarterback circumstance is grim. The two Mayfield and Sam Daronold are out with substantial ankle sprains, with the latter staying qualified to return from hurt reserve on Wednesday. P.J. Walker is working with a neck harm just after clearing concussion protocol this 7 days, leaving Jacob Eason as the only healthful signal caller still left. 

Quarterback Baker Mayfield, #6 of the Carolina Panthers, appears to be like on all through the fourth quarter of their video game towards the Cleveland Browns at Bank of The united states Stadium on Sept. 11, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

"I think they are all regarded as to be in the mix, specifically with the accidents that we have," Wilks stated Monday. "I told [Eason] on the airplane I was incredibly delighted with how he performed with poise and seriously took the staff down and set us in a posture in which we had an opportunity to rating.''

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Wilks additional that he is "wanting forward" to Darnold’s return but made no assures about Sunday’s video game from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers soon after he skipped the initial 6 games of the period with a preseason damage. 

"It is tricky to say just from the standpoint that I have not viewed him. I bought a lot of confidence in him as an person and as a player but by being off for so long, you do not know specifically how he’s likely to return." 

Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold, #14, looks to move during the initially 50 % of a preseason NFL football sport versus the Washington Commanders, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2022, in Landover, Maryland. (WHD Image/Nick Wass)

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The Panthers' offense is ranked final in the league by way of 7 days 6. They will consider on the struggling Bucs at home on Sunday. 

The contributed to this report.