CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold is expected to be placed on injured reserve with a right shoulder injury, coach Matt Rhule said Wednesday.
He will likely miss the next four to six weeks, Rhule said. A player must miss at least three weeks if they’re placed on IR.
Darnold first suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter of the Panthers’ Week 8 game against the Atlanta Falcons. He then re-injured the shoulder in the Panthers’ game against the Patriots last week when he played all 59 snaps, finishing the game with 172 passing yards and three interceptions. An MRI revealed he suffered an incomplete fracture of the scapula in his throwing shoulder blade.
The team believes he injured it at some point in the second quarter.
Because of his injury, backup quarterback P.J. Walker will likely start Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Walker, who took a majority of first-team reps last week in practice as Darnold worked through concussion protocol, has one career start — a 20-0 win over the Detroit Lions.
Walker, a former XFL quarterback who played college football for Rhule at Temple, has seen action twice this season, both in relief of Darnold.
The Panthers also signed veteran quarterback Matt Barkley from the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad on Tuesday to back up Walker. His addition does not preclude Carolina from signing another quarterback.
Darnold has struggled this season by throwing 11 interceptions to only seven touchdowns. With him headed to IR, the Panthers enter a week of practice with Walker and Barkley at quarterback.
