No 'major decision' on Carolina Panthers QBs Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold before second preseason game, coach says

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The Carolina Panthers won't make what coach Matt Rhule called a «major decision» on any position, particularly between quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, until after the Aug. 19 preseason game at New England.

Even then, Rhule might not make a decision if one hasn't clearly separated from the other after two joint practices in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and the game.

«I'm not putting a timetable on the quarterback position until after we get back from the Patriots week,» Rhule said after Saturday's scrimmage in which neither quarterback had a decisive advantage. «The Patriots week is a true litmus test for us. That will really show us where guys are.»

Meanwhile, the Panthers may have lost defensive end Marquis Haynes for an extended period of time with a left knee injury suffered while working with the first team. Carolina already was thin at that position and had made a run at veteran Carlos Dunlap, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jason Pierre-Paul, 33, is the most notable free agent edge rusher available. He had 9.5 sacks for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 but dipped to 2.5 last season.

In terms of the quarterbacks, Mayfield began the scrimmage working with the first team in red zone drills and was 1-for-3 on a drive that ended with a touchdown run by Chuba Hubbard. Darnold threw a touchdown pass to fullback Giovanni Ricci on his first play of red zone drills while working with the second team.

The two took equal reps with the first and second teams throughout the two-hour practice that focused on game situations. Mayfield finished 14-for-21 with a long touchdown pass and one interception. Darnold was 20-of-28 with a touchdown and an interception.

Both interceptions came with the