Former Houston Roughnecks quarterback P.J. Walker is expected to sign with the Carolina Panthers, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Walker (6-0, 207 pounds) led the XFL in passing yards (1,338) and passing touchdowns (15) this spring. He led the Roughnecks to a 5-0 record before the league closed down due to coronavirus concerns.
Earlier this offseason, the Broncos, Seahawks and Cardinals all reached out to Houston’s XFL team to inquire about the 25-year-old quarterback.
Carolina beat those three teams in the race to Walker. He will likely compete for the Panthers’ backup job behind starter Teddy Bridgewater.
Walker broke Temple’s records for passing yards (10,668) and passing touchdowns (74) during his time at the school and he helped the Owls reach back-to-back bowl games for the first time in the school’s history.
After an accomplished career at Temple, Walker signed with the Colts as a college free agent in 2017. He spent his first two seasons in the NFL on Indianapolis’ practice squad before being cut by the Colts last September.
After being let go by Indy, Walker entered the XFL draft in October and was added to the Roughnecks’ roster. He was the most exciting player in the XFL through five games, posting a 104.4 passer rating.
In Denver, the Broncos plan to start Drew Lock in 2020 with newly signed veteran Jeff Driskel serving as his backup.
