What It Means:

Darnold injured his shoulder back in Week 8 on the same play that knocked him out of the game with a concussion. While he was able to play in Week 9 against the Patriots, the Panthers' starter played poorly enough to earn a direct call-out from the team's head coach following the game. Even if Darnold is fully healthy for Week 10, it's fair to wonder if the Panthers might consider making a change at the position.

Darnold's -0.04 Passing Net Expected Points per attempt ranks fourth-worst in the league after Week 9, with only three rookies from the 2021 NFL Draft class grading out worse. The Panthers' offseason decision to acquire Darnold has been looking increasingly regrettable as the season has developed.