Panthers' PJ Walker gearing up for first start of season after contemplating NFL future

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In the offseason, the Carolina Panthers traded for Baker Mayfield and drafted Matt Corral. They had four quarterbacks in the room at one point, including Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker.

The Panthers acquired Darnold via trade last year, leaving Walker to think that he was on the outside looking in.

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Carolina Panthers quarterback PJ Walker (11) during an NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 11, 2022 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

However, Corral suffered a Linsfranc injury that ended his season, and Darnold suffered a high-ankle sprain that put him on IR. That shot Walker up the depth chart — but on Sunday, Mayfield injured his foot and is likely out this upcoming Sunday.

In around six months, Walker went from odd man out to starting quarterback.

"Over the summer, I had a different perspective on this whole situation," Walker said on Wednesday. "I thought about it for about a week. After that week, it is what it is. I was still going to be able to go out in the preseason and play, made the best of that. When I did get my reps in training camp, whatever opportunity, I made the best of it. It was a lot going through my mind because I felt like I could play. I felt like I was good enough to be the backup here. But things happen. It's a business. At the end of the day, I never stopped my approach of going out there and handling my business."

Safe to say, it's been a wild ride for Walker this year. The last week hasn't made things any more normal.

The Panthers fired Matt Rhule on Monday, who was