The Carolina Panthers on Monday cut quarterback Baker Mayfield, marking the surprising end to a partnership that didn’t even last one full season.
Mayfield started only six games for the Panthers after Carolina acquired him in the offseason from the Cleveland Browns. The former No. 1 overall pick went 1-5 in those starts with mostly poor play. Mayfield‘s 74.4 quarterback rating this season is a career-low and the signal-caller completed only 57.8% of his passes for 1,313 yards for six touchdowns.
Mayfield lost his starting job after suffering a high-ankle sprain in Week 5. Though he was healthy weeks later, Carolina kept P.J. Walker as its starting quarterback for Weeks 8 through 10. Mayfield did start in Week 11 against the Ravens because of an injury to Walker, but was benched the following game for Sam Darnold.
The Panthers (4-8) were on their bye this past weekend.
Carolina’s decision to release Mayfield comes as the San Francisco 49ers lost starter Jimmy Garoppolo to a season-ending foot injury. Backup Brock Purdy, the last overall pick from this year’s draft, played well in relief, though it’s unclear if the 49ers will look to add further quarterback help with Garoppolo hurt. San Francisco already signed veteran Josh Johnson off Denver’s practice squad in wake of Garoppolo’s injury.