Baker Mayfield: I’m Just trying To Win
Despite this being a pivotal year for his career, Baker Mayfield says that won’t be on his mind during his first start since Week 5.
The Carolina Panthers quarterback is in the last year of his rookie contract. Interim Steve Wilks confirmed PJ Walker’s injury Monday, naming Baker Mayfield the starter against Baltimore on Sunday as a result.
Baker Mayfield has backed up Walker since Week 5, despite the fact he has been healthy enough to play. Carolina is still in playoff contention, and Mayfield says that will be his focus come Sunday.
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“It’s pretty important to win, considering we’re still in a division race,” Mayfield said Wednesday. “That’s where I’m at. I’m not worried about everything else. It’ll take care of itself as long as I do my job. We’ll see where it goes.
“I’m just trying to win,” he said. “I’m not worried about it being my job, quote unquote. I know what I’m capable of. This team does as well. I’m going to go out there fully confident and ready to win.”
If he knows what he’s capable of, Sunday would be a good time to remember how to produce it. Mayfield’s numbers during the Panthers’ 1-4 start do not make for pretty reading.
He was sacked 15 times in 5 games, compared to Walkers’ 5 sacks in the next 5 games. His quarterback rating of 15.3 was the lowest over a five game span since 2006.
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If there is hope for Mayfield, it’s that Carolina runs the ball a lot more under Wilks than it did under Rhule.
“It’s really taking the pressure off anybody that’s playing quarterback,” Wilks said of the run game. “They don’t have to really sit back there and try to win the game for us. We’re going to try to establish what we do up front and give him a clean pocket when he tries to push the ball downfield.”
