Saints' Mark Ingram Apologizes for Failing to Get Late 1st Down vs. Buccaneers
Dec 6, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 05: Mark Ingram II #22 of the New Orleans Saints warms up prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 05, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram took the blame for his team's 17-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.
In a Twitter post after the game, Ingram apologized to his teammates for failing to get a crucial first down after catching a pass on 2nd-and-8 midway through the fourth quarter.
Im sick about this one. Regardless of circumstances or how I feel I have to get that fresh set of downs for the squad. I apologize to my teammates my coaches and my city for a crucial mistake. We work way too hard and sacrifice blood sweat and tears. I will be better. ⚜️🖤
Ingram caught a pass from Andy Dalton and appeared as if he could have picked up an additional yard or two for a first down, but he elected to step out of bounds short of the sticks.
Dalton's third-down pass to Marquez Callaway was incomplete. Saints head coach Dennis Allen elected to punt the ball away from the Bucs' 44-yard line with 5:31 left to play.
Tom Brady led the Bucs on a 10-play, 91-yard touchdown drive that cut the deficit to 16-10 with three minutes left in regulation.
The Saints offense went three-and-out on its next possession, giving Tampa the ball back with 2:29 on the clock. Brady hit Rachaad White for a six-yard touchdown with three seconds left to give the Bucs a comeback win.
The Saints had a 98.7 win probability before Mark Ingram ran out of bounds 1 yards short of a first down on the second-and-8 play around the 6-minute mark of the fourth quarter.
This was Ingram's second game back after he missed four weeks with a sprained MCL suffered during the Saints' 24-0 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 30.
It's unclear if Ingram's decision may have been an attempt to protect himself from being hit. Bucs linebacker Devin White was bearing down on him before he stepped out of bounds.
It's certainly not entirely Ingram's fault that New Orleans lost the game, either. Allen's decision to punt on the same drive cost his team 12.7 percent win probability, per NumberFire.com.
New Orleans' offense also came away with three field goals in each of its three red-zone trips against the Bucs defense.
Despite entering the game with a 4-8 record, the Saints were very much alive in the playoff race because the NFC South has been a mess. They would have gone into their Week 14 bye with the same number of wins as the Bucs (five) and just one game back in the loss column if they had been able to hold on.
Now, the Saints are effectively four games behind the Bucs after being swept in the two-game season series with four games to play.
Tom Brady Passes Peyton Manning for Most 4th-Quarter Comebacks in NFL History
Dec 6, 2022
TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 05: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during the regular season game between the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 05, 2022 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Yet another NFL record fell at the hands of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady on Monday night.
With the Bucs trailing the New Orleans Saints 16-3 deep in the fourth quarter, Brady threw touchdown passes to tight end Cade Otton and running back Rachaad White inside the final three minutes to give Tampa a 17-16 win and himself his 44th career fourth-quarter comeback.
According to ESPN's Jenna Laine, that broke a tie with legendary Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning to give Brady the most fourth-quarter comebacks by an quarterback in NFL history.
The 45-year-old Brady has been used to playing ahead for most of his career, especially during his 20-year stint with the New England Patriots, but he has staged his fair share of dramatic comebacks as well.
Monday marked Brady's 328th career regular-season start, and he now owns a record of 249-79. Monday's comeback was not only the 44th of his career, but also his second of the season.
Brady has at least one fourth-quarter comeback in every season since 2001 with the exception of 2008, which was the season in which he suffered a torn ACL in the first game.
The comeback against New Orleans was perhaps among the most unlikely of his career, since he has struggled against the Saints during his time in Tampa and had never completed a comeback of 13 or more points in the fourth quarter of a regular-season game.
In fact, Brady's only fourth-quarter comeback from down 13 or more points in the fourth quarter before Monday was Super Bowl LI when the Patriots shocked the Atlanta Falcons in overtime, overcoming a 28-3 deficit overall.
So far this season, wins have not been as easy to come by for Brady and the Bucs.
The win against New Orleans improved Tampa Bay's record to 6-6 on the year. With five games remaining, Brady has already suffered more losses this season than in any season since 2009 when he and the Pats finished 10-6.
Brady has never finished with a losing record in his career, and Monday's win helped him take a big step toward keeping that remarkable stat intact.
While a 6-6 record would normally be cause of concern in terms of missing the playoffs, Brady and the Buccaneers are actually sitting pretty in the agonizingly bad NFC South.
At 6-6, the Bucs hold a 1.5-game lead over the Atlanta Falcons for first place in the division, and it is difficult to envision Tampa falling from that spot despite its issues this season.
A loss to the Saints would have left the Bucs at 5-7 and only a half-game ahead of the Falcons, though, meaning the 44th fourth-quarter comeback of Brady's career could prove to be one of his biggest.
Appreciate Tom Brady's Late-Game Magic Now Because It'll Be Gone Soon
Dec 6, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 05: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium on December 05, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Tom Brady's career is the NFL equivalent of the often-used Undertaker GIF. Just when everyone thinks it's OK to finally bury the veteran, he rises to the occasion. Eventually, even Mark Calaway was forced to retire the gimmick after a long and fruitful run. Before then, he provided memorable moment after memorable moment.
Remarkably, Brady on Monday did something he had never accomplished after it looked like the New Orleans Saints had his number once again. In the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 17-16 victory the 45-year-old future Hall of Famer threw for the last score with only eight seconds remaining at the snap—which marked the latest game-winning touchdown pass in Brady's historic career, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
The Bucs now own a 6-6 record and 1.5-game lead in the NFC South. Brady's helping to pull another win from the jaws of defeat serves as a double-edged sword.
Simple appreciation of what he's done must be savored now, because his career will be over relatively soon. Conversely, the win sets up disappointment down the road.
On the positive side, Brady's teams have benefited with him behind center. Monday's result was the 44th comeback victory for the three-time league MVP, which broke a tie between Brady and his old rival, Peyton Manning. The performance also was the second instance of a Brady-led squad's winning after trailing by 13 or more points in the fourth quarter. The other? Super Bowl LI. (Sorry, Atlanta Falcons fans.)
The outcome and how it came about shouldn't blur who the Buccaneers are, though. Brady's potential last dance is fraught with obstacles.
Rookie running back Rachaad White scores the winning touchdown.
Before looking toward the long term, Tampa Bay must handle business in the coming weeks. The schedule is manageable with an upcoming meeting against the San Francisco 49ers—when this year's Mr. Irrelevant, quarterback Brock Purdy, will make his first career start—and teams with losing records to round out the final three weeks of play.
Aside from the Cincinnati Bengals game in Week 15, four of the five remaining contests are winnable. The Buccaneers could win 10 on their way to a second consecutive division title.
History shows they're capable of doing so. After a slow start to the 2020 season, Brady and Co. hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. A significant difference exists between then and now, though. That year, Brady had just signed with the organization and needed to build a rapport with his receivers and rhythm within the offense.
Now, Tampa Bay is clearly deficient in certain areas.
The offensive line is almost completely rebuilt from a year ago. Tristan Wirfs' ankle injury last week only exacerbated an already glaring issue. The losses of left guard Ali Marpet (retirement), right guard Alex Cappa (free agency) and center Ryan Jensen (knee injury) created a lack of continuity up front front. Even bringing in Shaq Mason can do only so much when the unit is playing together for the first time and continuing to evolve.
A byproduct of rebuilding an offensive line on the fly is a significant downturn in the running game. At 73.3 rushing yards per contest, Tampa Bay owns the league's worst ground game by a significant margin (11.4 yards to be exact).
Furthermore, Brady is having one of the worst years of his career when it comes to pushing the ball down the field. The Buccaneers had one of the league's best wide receiver corps over the last two seasons, especially with Mike Evans on the outside since he's an elite vertical threat.
Mike Evans
Yet the quarterback's 31 completion percentage on throws 20 or more yards down the field entering Monday's contest was Brady's worst since the '14 campaign, per ESPN. Brady missed multiple deep attempts against the Saints and didn't help to stretch the field. Only one connection, to Evans, was over 20 yards.
Instead, defenses are now constricting the playing area. They don't have to worry much about Tampa Bay's running attack or the threat of a big play. Brady also can't lean on the tight end position as much after his favorite target, Rob Gronkowski, retired.
Even so, Tampa Bay found a win to win...with a little help from New Orleans.
"I wish we would score more points against them," Brady said. "They make it really hard."
In the Saints' case, Dennis Allen's squad had the game in hand bud lost because of poor late-game management and mental mistakes. New Orleans had two opportunities to close out the contest. All it had to do was sustain a drive.
With 6:11 remaining and a 13-point lead, Mark Ingram II inexplicably ran out of bounds short of a first down without being touched. On the next play, 3rd-and-1 from Tampa Bay's 44-yard line, the Saints threw an incomplete pass instead of just running the ball. The Buccaneers responded with a 91-yard drive for their first touchdown.
During the following series, New Orleans went three-and-out with a pair of pass calls, including a sack on second down.
Mark Ingram II
The Saints lost this meeting as much as the Buccaneers earned the victory. The setup is important, because it shows how fortunate Tampa Bay was to reach .500. Todd Bowles' group isn't playing particularly well, and a late-game rally doesn't portend a significant postseason run.
As for Brady and where he goes from this point, much will be decided in the offseason. The 23-year veteran isn't under contract beyond this season. He has said he would like to play until at least 2024, though his highly publicized divorce from Gisele Bündchen could change that.
If the NFL's all-time leading passer chooses not to return after this season, the type of moments seen from him Monday may never happen again with only five regular-season games left to play. Brady will walk away as the greatest player of all time. He's earned that designation. But he's no different than any professional athlete who preceded him. Eventually, Father Time wins.
A void will be left without the seven-time Super Bowl champion. But it's far from time to let his career rest. Brady appears to have one more age-defying stand left in him, and everyone should enjoy it for as long as it lasts.
Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.
Saints Blasted by Twitter for 'Epic' 4th-Quarter Collapse in Loss to Tom Brady, Bucs
Dec 6, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 05: Head coach Dennis Allen of the New Orleans Saints reacts against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the fourth quarter in the game at Raymond James Stadium on December 05, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
The New Orleans Saints have not had the 2022 season they were hoping for, but they reached a new low with an embarrassing 17-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football.
The Saints (4-9) had taken a 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter and looked to be cruising to victory, which would have been crucial for the team's hopes to stay alive in the race for the NFC South. However, New Orleans allowed 14 points in the final three minutes to allow Tampa Bay to escape.
Tom Brady and the Buccaneers (6-6) wore down the Saints defense with 10- and 11-play drives to steal the victory. New Orleans wasted a clean performance from quarterback Andy Dalton, who threw for 229 yards and a touchdown on 20-of-28 passing and is now 0-13 in primetime games on the road.
NFL Twitter lit up the Saints for their "epic" collapse, with many calling for changes within the organization:
In a season of failures, this is the low point for the #Saints. Words can’t describe how pathetic this collapse is.
The amount of things they had to do to blow this game is actually impressive. They somehow pulled it off.
Saints were 113-1 since 2000 in regular season and playoffs when leading by 13+ in final 5:00 before losing tonight. Only other loss came vs Matthew Stafford and Lions on Oct. 19, 2014
Trailing 16-3 with 5:34 remaining in the game, the Buccaneers had just a 0.7% chance of winning.
The Buccaneers late-game comeback goes down as the 4th-most improbable of the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016) based on the NGS win probability model.#NOvsTB | Powered by @awscloudpic.twitter.com/9i9GTEqjFW
#Saints screwed up that game so unbelievably bad. That was a smaller-scale 2014 #Packers Bostick collapse, and I’m sorry for bringing that up, but damn.
The Saints have been beset by injuries to multiple key players, but this loss was inexcusable. Had the defense not run out of gas, New Orleans would've been in a surprising position to fight for the division crown.
The Saints don't have many solutions available at the moment, but they will try to regroup during their bye in Week 14 before returning to action with another division matchup, against the Atlanta Falcons, on Dec. 18.
Tom Brady Celebrated by LeBron James, Twitter for Leading Bucs' GW Drive vs. Saints
Dec 6, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 05: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium on December 05, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
It looked like it was finally safe to count out Touchdown Tom.
Until it wasn't.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were lost on offense for the majority of Monday's NFC South showdown against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium, but Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes in the final three minutes to help them earn a dramatic 17-16 victory.
Tampa Bay is somehow in full control of the NFC South at 6-6, which is a testament to the dreadfulness of the division more than anything else. But Brady and Co. have now won three of their last four and are in line to host a playoff game after he connected with Rachaad White for a six-yard score with three seconds left.
Social media naturally featured plenty of reactions to the GOAT's latest highlight:
You know what, we all know @TomBrady is the G.O.A.T. But I’ve just decided we still don’t give him his just due. What a damn WINNER. He didn’t just won the game once tonight — but TWICE! Un-Freaking-Believable.
Brady has had more impressive comebacks throughout his career—28-3, anyone?—but Monday's was shocking given the way the first 57 minutes unfolded.
The Tampa Bay crowd loudly booed throughout much of the contest as the offense managed just three points in a first half in which Brady threw an ugly interception to Demario Davis. And then White lost a fumble on the Bucs' opening possession of the second half.
Later, it was head coach Todd Bowles' turn to draw the boos, as he elected to punt on 4th-and-7 from the New Orleans 40 with the score 13-3 on the first play of the fourth quarter.
It looked hopeless for the Buccaneers, but hope is never lost with Brady.
With five minutes to play, he marched the offense 91 yards in just more than two minutes, capping the drive with a one-yard touchdown pass to Cade Otton. After the defense forced a three-and-out, Brady took advantage of one final chance with an 11-play, 63-yard drive that took just under two-and-a-half minutes.
Next up for the Buccaneers is a road matchup against the San Francisco 49ers as they look to build on Monday's win.
Drew Brees Says He’s ‘Good’ and Wasn’t Struck by Lightning After Video Goes Viral
Dec 2, 2022
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 25: Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees speaks to the fans during halftime of the game between the Buffalo Bills and the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on November 25, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was not struck by lightning during a commercial shoot for PointsBet USA.
A video was posted on social media that appeared to show the future Hall of Famer being struck by a bolt of lightning while filming the ad in Venezuela.
Estrella de la @NFL@drewbrees fue impactado por un relámpago en el Catatumbo mientras grabábamos un comercial al sur del lago de Maracaibo. Pasó hace unas horas. Más información en breve... pic.twitter.com/b8PQdRpdtN
Brees told ESPN's Katherine Terrell via text he's "good" and was not struck by lightning.
PointsBet issued a statement on Twitter after footage of the apparent lightning strike was released:
We are aware of the media coverage regarding PointsBet brand ambassador Drew Brees. We are in communication with Brees' team and will continue to monitor events throughout the coming hours. At this stage we will not be making any further comment.
In a follow-up video release, Brees and PointsBet made it pretty clear without blatantly saying it that the lightning video was part of a viral marketing push:
Time to let you in on a little fun we've had with @drewbrees guys. He's alive and well and "buzzing" for a weekend of free bets. Keep your eyes on our channels all weekend for bet drops for US vs. Netherlands, College Football and NFL. pic.twitter.com/vhnLm5S0Cw
PointsBet signed Brees as a brand ambassador for the company in July 2021. The deal also gave the 13-time Pro Bowler an equity stake and cash component in the company.
PointsBet launched a new lightning bet feature for NFL games in October.
Brees' deal with PointsBet came on the heels of NBC Universal announcing a five-year media partnership in August 2020. The partnership gave a 4.9 percent equity stake in the company.
NBC Sports signed Brees after his retirement from the NFL to serve as the color commentator for Notre Dame games and an analyst for Football Night in America for the 2021 season. He left the network in May.
Brees played 20 seasons in the NFL from 2001-20. He began his career with the San Diego Chargers and spent five years with the organization.
The Saints signed Brees as a free agent after the 2005 campaign. He became the most important player in franchise history, leading them to nine playoff appearances in 15 seasons and a victory in Super Bowl 44.
Brees retired as the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards (80,358), though that record has since been surpassed by Tom Brady. He also ranks second to Brady in career touchdown passes (571).
Buccaneers' Bruce Arians Was Hospitalized for 4 Days with Heart Issue
Nov 16, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 02: Bruce Arians of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians was hospitalized for four days last month with myocarditis, he revealed in an interview this week.
"On the night before the Atlanta game, we had a house full of people," Arians told Ira Kaufman of JoeBucsFan.com. “We ate and I got these pains way up here, like two knives going in. The more I tried to take a breath, the worse it got.
"I took some TUMS, thinking it was indigestion, but it just got worse. I called [wife] Christine back to the bedroom and said I can’t shake this pain. We called 911, and they put me on a stretcher to Tampa General."
Arians said doctors kept him in the hospital for four days, at first believing he had a mild heart attack or a buildup of fluid around his heart before eventually diagnosing him with myocarditis.
"Thankfully, the scans showed no fluid, no heart damage and absolutely no blockages," Arians said. "They had a cardiac radiologist look at everything, and they ended up giving me anti-inflammatories."
The myocarditis caused Arians to miss Oct. 9's win over the Atlanta Falcons, as well as trips to Pittsburgh and Carolina the following two weeks. Arians currently serves as a senior adviser to Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht.
The 70-year-old retired from his coaching position during the offseason after spending three campaigns in Tampa. He coached the Bucs to a Super Bowl LV victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Bruce Arians: Tom Brady Was 'Playing Bad' During Buccaneers' 3-Game Losing Streak
Nov 15, 2022
TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 02: Bruce Arians of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians said criticism of offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich during the team's three-game losing streak was unfair and cast a spotlight on the play of Tom Brady.
"I don't think it was fair to Byron," Arians, who serves as a senior adviser on the Bucs organization, told Ira Kaufman of JoeBucsFan.com. "Nobody is going to say that Brady was playing bad, but he was playing bad. We also had growing pains on a young offensive front, and we weren't running well. There comes a time as a play-caller when you're losing yards running the ball and you say, 'Forget this, I'm putting the ball in Tom's hands.'"
Brady threw for just two touchdowns over Tampa's losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens, which dropped the Bucs to 3-5. Those losses, particularly ones to lowly Carolina and Pittsburgh, will likely play a huge factor in Tampa's playoff seeding—assuming the team is able to win the weak NFC South.
Much of Brady's struggles can be attributed to injuries across the offensive line and receiving corps, which has led to a general inconsistency that's frustrated the veteran quarterback. Brady currently sits second in the NFL in passing yards (2,805), but he's thrown as many touchdown passes (12) as Marcus Mariota (tied for 14th).
The Bucs is sitting 27th in red-zone touchdown percentage after finishing second in the NFL last season.
Brady is on pace for 20 touchdown passes, which would be the worst mark since 2001 (his first season as a starter).
Arians expressed confidence in the Bucs turning things around, noting their offense was far more effective in Sunday's win over the Seattle Seahawks—even if it wasn't entirely done through the air.
The Bucs are off in Week 11 before traveling to play the Cleveland Browns in Week 12.
Antonio Brown Shares Photo of 2021 Text from Tom Brady: 'You Are Acting Selfish'
Nov 15, 2022
Football: Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady (12) in action with Antonio Brown (81) during game vs Dallas Cowboys at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa, FL 9/9/2021 CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X163788 TK1)
Antonio Brown shared an old text on social media apparently from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, which seemed to call out of the receiver's questionable behavior off the field:
So is Antonio Brown attempting to make Tom Brady look like the bad guy here? Because he comes across as a damn good friend here... pic.twitter.com/8MZwsWFeg4
"You are acting selfish and unfortunately many of those people are exhausted by the erratic and unpredictable emotional behavior," Brady wrote.
The text was dated May, 10, 2021, which was after Brown's first season with the Buccaneers. The seven-time Pro Bowler helped Brady and Tampa Bay win the Super Bowl and he was seeking a new deal with the organization.
On April 28, his agents told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network that Brown had agreed to a new one-year deal with the Buccaneers. However, it took several weeks for the two sides to actually put pen to paper.
There was clearly something that held up the deal, which was enough for Brady to call out his teammate. At the time, head coach Bruce Arians only said the wideout needed a physical and praised Brown for his behavior.
"We wanted AB back," Arians told the Pewter Report. "He was a model citizen the whole time he's been here. We wanted him back and he's never had surgery in his life. It's just a matter of physical done. I wanted him back the whole time."
Things obviously didn't end well in this situation, as an on-field outburst led to the Bucs releasing Brown in the middle of the next season.
The relationship between Brown and Brady also soured. Brown went from living with Brady when he arrived in Tampa Bay to trolling the quarterback following the highly publicized divorce with Gisele Bündchen.
While Brown's latest post might have been intended to further criticize Brady, it instead comes across as a genuine call for Brown to turn things around.
Report: Sam Darnold to Be Panthers' Backup QB Behind Baker Mayfield After Injury
Nov 15, 2022
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 02: Sam Darnold #14 of the Carolina Panthers looks to throw the ball in the second quarter of the game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on January 02, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Sam Darnold could be in line to play for the first time this season when the Carolina Panthers take on the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported quarterback PJ Walker will be sidelined with a high ankle sprain, which prompted head coach Steve Wilks to say Baker Mayfield will start.
Yet Darnold is expected to suit up as the backup after missing the first 10 games with his own high ankle sprain. If Mayfield struggles, the Panthers could look toward the USC product under center.
It should be noted that Darnold hasn't lived up to the expectations that came with being selected No. 3 overall by the New
York Jets in the 2018 draft.
The 25-year-old has
completed 59.8 percent of his 1,625 career throws with a lackluster
54-52 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He threw more INTs than TDs
each of the past two years.
Darnold is coming off a 2021 season in which he
ranked 29th in ESPN's Total QBR and received a poor 54.7 overall
grade from Pro Football Focus. It was his first campaign in Carolina after three with New York.
His future with the Panthers
first came into question when the front office selected fellow
quarterback Matt Corral in the third round of this year's draft, and
then the Mayfield trade in July ensured an even more difficult path to playing time.
Ahead of training camp, Darnold said he was ready to fight for the top spot on the depth
chart.
"It's always fun to compete and to
be able to have someone to compete with," he told
reporters. "At the same time, in our eyes, we're both the
starting quarterback for this team right now, and that's how we're
going to view it."
Trade rumors started to pop up as
Mayfield surged ahead in the competition, in part because Darnold
carried a $18.9 million salary-cap hit in the final year of his
rookie contract, which is a significant amount to pay a backup. Meanwhile, Corral suffered a season-ending foot injury in preseason.
Yet the ankle injury delayed the situation, and now he will be the team's backup with Walker sidelined.
