Tag: P.J. Walker

Sep 10, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) hands the ball off to running back Deon Jackson (35) in the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Browns sign RB Deon Jackson to roster

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cleveland Browns signed running back Deon Jackson to the active roster from the practice squad on Saturday.

Jackson is expected to provide depth in the backfield behind Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt for the Browns (3-2) in Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts (3-3). Jackson began the season with the Colts before spending the past four weeks on the practice squad.

Also on Saturday, the Browns elevated quarterback P.J. Walker and linebacker Charlie Thomas III to the active roster from the practice squad. Walker would be in line to start Sunday’s game should Deshaun Watson be unable to play due to a shoulder injury.

Watson, who is listed as questionable to face the Colts, was wearing a harness on his shoulder and a compression sleeve on his right arm Friday. He has not played since bruising the rotator cuff in his right (throwing) shoulder in Week 3.

Walker, 28, completed 18 of 34 passes for 192 yards with two interceptions in Cleveland’s 19-17 upset victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Jackson, 24, rushed for just 14 yards on 13 carries and gained only 14 yards on five receptions during Indianapolis’ season-opening 31-21 loss to Jacksonville on Sept. 10.

He rushed for 281 yards and two touchdowns and caught 35 passes for 223 yards and one score in 27 games (three starts) over the last three seasons with the Colts. He was undrafted out of Duke in 2021.

Thomas, 23, is a rookie out of Georgia Tech. He has spent the entire season on the Browns’ practice squad.

–Field Level Media

Aug 12, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback P.J. Walker (15) passes against the Tennessee Titans in the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Browns elevate QB P.J. Walker to start vs. 49ers

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cleveland Browns elevated quarterback P.J. Walker and wide receiver Jaelon Darden to the active roster from the practice squad on Saturday.

The procedural move allows Walker to be under center on Sunday when the Browns (2-2) host the San Francisco 49ers (5-0). Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson struggled in place of injured starter Deshaun Watson on Oct. 1, completing just 19 of 36 passes for 121 yards with three interceptions in a 28-3 setback to the Baltimore Ravens.

Watson, 28, reportedly is dealing with a contusion to his rotator cuff in his right shoulder after being sacked 12 times in three games this season. He didn’t practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and reportedly could miss more than a month.

Walker will face off against 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who was the Panthers’ defensive coordinator and then interim coach during Walker’s three seasons at Carolina. Walker was benched after Wilks briefly gave him a chance to start in 2022.

Walker, 28, joined the Browns’ practice squad on Aug. 30.

He played 15 games, including seven starts, for the Panthers from 2020-22. He completed 131 of 228 pass attempts (57.5 percent) for 1,461 yards, five touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 63.9 passer rating.

Darden, 24, has eight catches for 69 yards in 23 career games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2021-22) and Browns.

–Field Level Media

Aug 26, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback PJ Walker (15) against the Buffalo Bills during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Browns sign QB P.J. Walker to practice squad

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cleveland Browns signed former starting quarterback and Chicago castoff P.J. Walker to their practice squad on Wednesday, giving the team three QBs heading into the season.

The Browns cut Kellen Mond on Tuesday after trading Joshua Dobbs to Arizona last week. Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson is the primary backup to Deshaun Watson.

Walker was a surprise camp casualty of the Bears.

Walker, 28, had played the past three seasons for the Carolina Panthers and signed a two-year contract with Chicago in March worth a reported $4.15 million with more than $2 million in guarantees.

Walker played 15 games, including seven starts, for the Panthers from 2020-22. He completed 131 of 228 attempts (57.5 percent) for 1,461 yards, five touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 63.9 passer rating.

Also Wednesday, the Browns signed former Kansas City cornerback Kahlef Hailassie off the waiver wire. Cleveland reportedly planned to release cornerback A.J. Green in a corresponding move. He played in 31 games over the past three seasons for the Browns.

Also, the team signed OL Alex Leatherwood to their practice squad. Leatherwood was also cut by the Bears.

–Field Level Media

Dec 19, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback P.J. Walker (6) warms up prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers sticking with P.J. Walker at QB

Posted on | by Field Level Media

P.J. Walker will remain the starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers in Week 9.

Panthers head coach Steve Wilks made the announcement Monday, a decision that again relegates Baker Mayfield to the bench.

Wilks said Mayfield has been a “ultimate, ultimate pro” over being benched.

Walker is 1-2 as the starter for the Panthers, who are 2-6 heading into their Week 9 game at Cincinnati.

Walker nearly rallied the Panthers to an unlikely victory Sunday in Atlanta. Walker hooked up with a diving DJ Moore for a 62-yard touchdown heave with 12 seconds left in regulation. However, an unsportsmanlike penalty on Moore contributed to a longer extra-point kick that was off the mark and kept the game tied at 34-34.

The Panthers lost in overtime as Eddy Pineiro missed a 32-yard field goal and the Falcons kicked the winning FG with 1:55 left. Wilks said the Panthers are sticking with Pineiro and have no plans to bring in a kicker this week.

Walker, 27, is completing 62.5 percent of his passes for 614 yards, with three touchdowns against one interception. The former XFL player is making $895,000 this season.

Mayfield, with a contract worth as much as $18.86 million this season, was 1-4 with 962 passing yards to go with four touchdowns and four interceptions.

Last year’s starter, Sam Darnold, is in the 21-day practice window to be activated to the 53-man roster. He was designated for return from injured reserve on Oct. 19. Wilks said he will continue to be evaluated.

–Field Level Media

Nov 7, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) before the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers place QB Sam Darnold (shoulder) on injured reserve

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Carolina Panthers placed Sam Darnold on injured reserve Friday, one day after they signed fellow quarterback Cam Newton to a contract.

Coach Matt Rhule said Darnold will be out at least four weeks with an injured throwing shoulder. Darnold was diagnosed earlier this week with an incomplete scapula fracture.

P.J. Walker is expected to start the Panthers’ game against the Arizona Cardinals (8-1) on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz.

Walker, 26, won his only previous NFL start last season, completing 24 of 34 passes for 258 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Carolina’s 20-0 defeat of the Detroit Lions on Nov. 22, 2020.

After a 3-0 start, the Panthers have lost five of their past six, including a 24-6 defeat to the New England Patriots on Sunday. Darnold went 16-for-33 passing in that game with 172 yards, three interceptions and zero touchdowns.

Carolina acquired Darnold in April from the New York Jets in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and second- and fourth-round picks in 2022. They later shipped Teddy Bridgewater to Denver, lining Darnold up to earn his place as the franchise quarterback.

Darnold, 24, has started all nine games for Carolina in 2021 and has thrown for 1,986 yards, seven touchdowns and a league high-tying 11 interceptions with a 59.5 percent completion rate.

The Jets selected Darnold with the No. 3 overall pick of the 2018 draft.

–Field Level Media