CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Quarterback PJ WalkerHe will make his third NFL debut on Sunday against the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles RamsSummated how Carolina Panthers The decision was felt by the players fire head coach Matt Rhule Steve Wilks should replace him.
Walker stated Wednesday that everyone was shocked. This was the first time the players had spoken to the media since Monday's coaching change. Everyone felt it. It's impossible to know. In the last couple of weeks, we didn't know what each week was like. This is a significant burden for many players.
“Many loved Coach Rhule. Now Coach Wilks takes over. We believe a lot in Coach Wilks and we'll take things from there.
Running back Christian McCaffrey agreed.
He stated, “When someone you care about loses their job, it's hard.” This is a difficult business. It is a results-oriented business. We have to move on, even though we love Coach. He would want us to do that.
Wilks made changes to Rhule’s practice routine quickly. He turned Wednesday into a padded exercise instead of Thursday in the hopes of creating a faster pace for a team that had started slowly during each game from a 1-4 start.
Walker described the energy as “elite.”
Walker, who was Rhule's player at the time, said, “We know that at the end the day we still need to do a job.” Temple. “If we don’t do our job, we’ll all be gone.”
Walker captured all of Wednesday's first-team snaps. Wilks however, left the door open. Baker Mayfield Could be back from the high ankle strain he suffered last Sunday 37-15 loss The San Francisco 49ers.
Wilks stated, “He's making good progress.” He feels that he might have a chance this weekend after talking with him. We'll watch and see what happens.
Sources close Mayfield indicated Tuesday that the 2018 draft's first pick is expected to miss 2-6 weeksHe said that Mayfield was doing all he could to be back on the field as soon as possible.
Mayfield was still wearing a left-foot walking boot Wednesday, but Wilks said that he wouldn't be ruled out for Sunday.
Wilks, who was in Mayfield's company, said, “I have a past with Baker,” Cleveland In 2019. “He's very physically, a very tough man, and mentally tough as well. His judgment is reliable.
“I would not put him in danger.” … He must have the timing and reps so that we can execute. I wouldn't be able to take him out if he didn't practice.
Rhule informed the players Monday night at 11 p.m. about the coaching change.
Walker spoke out about Rhule's message, saying that Rhule had a sincere love for the group. There were many men in the room who felt the same about him as he did about the players. Although it was difficult to watch him leave, we have to move on and conquer the pain. The season isn't over. We need to take care business.
Carolina's second coaching change of the season since 2019 is this. With four games left in the season, Ron Rivera was replaced by Perry Fewell. He went 0-4.
Linebacker: Seeing the change so early Shaq Thompson Many players are now experiencing a “rabid awakening”, as one player put it.
Thompson stated that he understood the business of football, particularly for young players. “At end of the day it's on us, the players. We have to get out there and do it.
Wilks stated the goal for this week was simplifying in all phases to allow players to play fast, aggressively. That was his mantra in 2018, as a Carolina defensive coordinator and in 2019, with Cleveland.
Wilks stated, “We discussed that this morning during the team meeting.” “I plan to apply the same approach on offense. We won't just sit back and watch the defense. We want to exert pressure on them, and get them to respond to us.
It was evident by the energy in Rhule's locker room that the Panthers (11-27) aren’t giving up on this season despite their 11 losses in their last 12 games.
McCaffrey explained, “Sometimes, bad things happen, but it keeps spinning.” “You need to keep moving. We have to win many of these ballgames.
