Walker agreed to a two-year contract with the Bears on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Walker will presumably compete with Trevor Siemian (oblique) for the backup role behind Justin Fields in Chicago's run-heavy offense. In six appearances (five starts) for the Panthers last season, Walker completed 59.4 percent of his passes for 731 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions while carrying six times for 39 yards.
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PJ Walker: Headed for free agency
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The Panthers didn't tender an offer to Walker as a restricted free agent Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Walker will thus hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent. Carolina is completely overhauling its quarterback room, saying goodbye to both Sam Darnold and Walker after previously cutting Baker Mayfield during the season after he made six starts. Walker made five starts for Carolina in 2022, completing 59.4 percent of his throws for 731 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. He'll look for a backup job elsewhere.
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Panthers' PJ Walker: Starts five games
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Walker started five of his six games played this season, completing 63 of 106 attempts (59.4%) for 731 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
Walker was thrust into Carolina's starting role amid injuries to Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. Although he led the Panthers to a couple of wins, Walker was inconsistent prior to suffering an ankle injury of his own. As Walker is a restricted free agent this offseason, it may be surprising if he is retained, as his spot with the Panthers was connected to his former college coach, Matt Rhule, who was fired by Carolina early in the 2022 campaign.
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Panthers' PJ Walker: Ready for Week 14
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Walker (ankle) is expected to suit up in Week 14 versus the Seahawks, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official website reports.
Walker will be ready to go for the Panthers' first game following their bye week after missing the last two contests with an ankle sprain. With Baker Mayfield being let go Monday, Walker will likely operate as the top backup quarterback option behind Sam Darnold for the stretch run. Walker has produced 731 passing yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions while also rushing for 39 yards over six games this year.
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Panthers' PJ Walker: Inactive Sunday
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Walker (ankle) is officially inactive for Sunday's game against Denver.
Walker was considered doubtful for Sunday's contest, so it's not a surprise he won't be suiting up. Sam Darnold will make his first start of the season with Baker Mayfield filling the backup role.
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Panthers' PJ Walker: Listed as limited Thursday
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Walker (ankle) was listed as limited on Thursday's injury report, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Walker emerged from Week 10 action with a high-ankle sprain, which is expected to sideline him for a second game in a row Sunday versus the Broncos. Interim coach Steve Wilks said as much Wednesday, when Walker was limited, as he wants to give the quarterback Carolina's Week 13 bye to aid his recovery further. This weekend, Sam Darnold will direct the offense, with Baker Mayfield backing him up.
Walker (ankle) was a limited participant during Wednesday's practice.
Walker sat out the Panthers' Week 11 loss to the Ravens due to a high-ankle sprain, after he had logged snaps at quarterback in each of the previous six games. Baker Mayfield replaced Walker as the starter in Week 11, but the Panthers won't turn to either player for the starting nod this weekend against Denver, as Sam Darnold is set to direct the offense. If available, Walker could supplant Mayfield as Darnold's backup, but the Panthers will wait and see how Walker responds to practice activity this week before deciding on his status.
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Panthers' PJ Walker: Steers clear of turnovers in win
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Walker completed 10 of 16 passes for 108 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and rushed three times for 14 yards in the Panthers' 25-15 win over the Falcons on Thursday night.
Walker operated in a very strict game-manager role while D'Onta Foreman carried the load for the offense, but at least the inconsistent signal-caller remained free of turnovers after a benching in Week 9. Walker's modest but steady performance seemingly keeps him in the starting role for a Week 11 road matchup against the Ravens a week from Sunday.
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Panthers' PJ Walker: Will draw another start in Week 9
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Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks said Monday that Walker will start again this Sunday against the Bengals, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.
Walker drew a second straight start Week 8, but aside from a 62-yard Hail Mary touchdown at the end of regulation, the undrafted quarterback struggled mightily against Atlanta's poor defense. Baker Mayfield has moved past his high-ankle sprain, while Sam Darnold (ankle) remains out, though he was designated to return from IR ahead of Week 7. Despite encouraging developments from Mayfield and Darnold, Wilks will continue to roll with Walker for at least one more week. During his two starts, Walker has completed 60.3 percent of his passes for 494 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, which was returned for a TD.
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Panthers' PJ Walker: Leads monumental upset win
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Walker completed 16 of 22 passes for 177 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the Panthers' 21-3 win over the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Walker managed to turn in what was arguably the best game of his career against about the biggest-name opponent possible, with the Temple product outdueling Tom Brady in one of the most improbable results of a season full of them thus far. He opened the scoring just before halftime with a 20-yard scoring strike to DJ Moore, and he ultimately salted the game with a perfectly thrown 29-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Tremble with 9:33 remaining. Baker Mayfield went into the weekend doubtful with his high-ankle sprain and was ultimately ruled inactive, and Sam Darnold (ankle) has already been designated for return from IR and began practicing this week. Therefore, Walker will likely need to put together another strong performance in a favorable Week 8 road matchup against the Falcons in order to have a chance to hold on to the starting role going into November.
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Panthers' PJ Walker: Set to start Sunday
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Interim head coach Steve Wilks confirmed Wednesday that Walker (neck) will start Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.
Though Wilks noted that Sam Darnold (ankle) looked good in his return to practice Wednesday, the team will turn to Walker in Week 7 while incumbent starter Baker Mayfield continues to tend to an ankle injury. Jacob Eason is slated to serve as Walker's backup on Sunday, per Joe Person of The Athletic. Walker, who suffered a neck injury late in last week's loss to the Rams but has since been cleared, thus represents a short-term fantasy lineup option for managers in two-quarterback or superflex formats or for those who are in need of a bye-week replacement.
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Panthers' P.J. Walker: Ruled out with neck injury
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Walker cleared the concussion protocol but has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Rams due to a neck injury, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Walker completed 10 of 16 passes for 60 yards and rushed once for minus-1 yard prior to being replaced by third-stringer Jacob Eason. He started in place of Baker Mayfield (ankle). Walker was originally evaluated for a head injury, but the injury appears to be to his neck instead.
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Panthers' P.J. Walker: Week 6 Waiver Priority List
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I don't have high expectations for Walker, and he might only start in Week 6 depending on the status of Baker Mayfield (ankle) or Sam Darnold (ankle). But Fantasy managers in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues might need Walker, especially with four teams on a bye, and he could be a streaming option in deeper formats at the Rams. He's worth up to 15 percent of your remaining FAB in those leagues.
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Panthers' P.J. Walker: Week 5 Waiver Priority List
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I don't have high expectations for Walker, and he might only start in Week 6 depending on the status of Baker Mayfield (ankle) or Sam Darnold (ankle). But Fantasy managers in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues might need Walker, especially with four teams on a bye, and he could be a streaming option in deeper formats at the Rams. He's worth up to 15 percent of your remaining FAB in those leagues.
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Panthers' P.J. Walker: May start Week 6
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With Baker Mayfield likely out due to a high-ankle sprain, Walker is in line to start at quarterback for the Panthers' Week 6 matchup against the Rams on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Walker replaced Mayfield late in the team's Week 5 blowout loss to the 49ers and completed five of six passes for 60 yards. The undrafted quarterback out of Temple has appeared in nine games over the past two seasons with Carolina, but he's thrown just two touchdowns and eight interceptions. However, with Sam Darnold (ankle) and Matt Corral (foot) both on injured reserve, the Panthers don't have many options to turn to. Look for Carolina to make multiple moves this week to shore up its quarterback depth, which likely will include adding Jacob Eason to the active roster from the practice squad.
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Panthers' P.J. Walker: Expected to back up Mayfield
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Walker has the confidence of the Panthers coaching staff to back up Baker Mayfield while Sam Darnold (ankle) recovers from his injury suffered in Friday's preseason finale versus the Bills, ESPN's David Newton reports.
Walker entered Friday's game after Mayfield and Darnold played the first three quarters. He completed 8 of 10 passes for 50 yards but couldn't lead the Panthers to any points on his two drives. However, with rookie third-rounder Matt Corral (foot) out for the season and Darnold now expected to miss at least one month, Walker finds himself as Carolina's second-stringer heading into Week 1.
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Panthers' P.J. Walker: Placed on COVID-19 list
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The Panthers placed Walker (undisclosed) on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Walker was a healthy scratch for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, and he'll now be forced to isolate from the team. It's not yet clear whether he's tested positive for COVID-19, but he isn't guaranteed to suit up in Week 17 even if he's activated prior to Sunday.
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Panthers' P.J. Walker: Expected to be part of game plan
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Coach Matt Rhule said Monday that the plan is to continue to play both Walker and Cam Newton, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.
Walker has played exactly 15 offensive snaps in each of the last two contests, completing 50 percent of his 22 passes for 162 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Rhule reiterated after the 29-21 loss that Cam Newton remains the starting quarterback, but he won't hesitate to give Walker a chance if the offense is struggling, which it has during the past two games. Nonetheless, as long as Newton remains in the picture, Walker's fantasy potential is hindered. Both signal-callers face an interesting test Week 15 as the Panthers will travel to Buffalo to face a struggling Bills defense.
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Panthers' P.J. Walker: Likely headed for backup role
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Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said Monday that Cam Newton will take most of the first-team reps in practice this week, signaling that Walker likely will return to a backup role for Carolina's Week 11 matchup with Washington, Jonathan M. Alexander of The Charlotte Observer reports. "If [Newton is] ready to start, great," Rhule said. "If he's not quite ready, obviously P.J. is available."
After Sam Darnold (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve Friday with the expectation that he'll be sidelined for the remainder of the season, Walker stepped in for his second career start over the weekend in the Panthers' 34-10 win over the Cardinals. Though the Panthers were essentially in control of the contest from opening kickoff, Walker wasn't the solid game manager that Carolina's 24-point margin of victory implied. While he completed 22 of his 29 throws, Walker averaged a weak 5.8 yards per attempt and committed two turnovers (an interception and a lost fumble). Meanwhile, Newton -- who inked a one-year deal with Carolina on Thursday -- was eased into the game plan with a limited snap count and cashed in with touchdowns through the air and on the ground. With a full week of prep in practice, the expectation is that the veteran signal-caller will take over as the team's starter moving forward as Carolina looks to keep itself in the thick of a packed NFC playoff race.
Walker handled all the reps with the first-team offense at Wednesday's practice, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.
Walker took over for Sam Darnold midway through the fourth quarter of the Panthers' Week 8 win in Atlanta when the latter took a hit to his upper right arm. Darnold was later diagnosed with a concussion, then was listed as limited with both the head injury and a right shoulder issue on Wednesday's practice report. If he doesn't complete all five phases of the concussion protocol in time for Sunday's contest against the Patriots, Darnold will hand over the keys to the offense to Walker. In seven career appearances, Walker has completed 35 of 71 passes for 401 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions.
