%201.png){kind=small}
“This will be the first time I step on the (Panthers’) field, ” said Hinton, who was back on the Broncos’ practice squad in 2020 when the Broncos visited Charlotte two weeks after he was Denver’s emergency quarterback in his NFL debut. BACK TO THE RUN: The Panthers averaged 146. 2 yards per game on the ground in their previous four games under Wilks before the Ravens slammed the door on D’Onta Foreman and company this past week, limiting Carolina to 36 yards on 17 carries. But don’t expect the Panthers to go away from the run anytime soon, especially with Darnold just getting his feet wet.
Likewise, 2018 No. 1 draft pick Baker Mayfield has been a flop with the Panthers (3-8) since coming over from the Cleveland Browns, prompting interim head coach Steve Wilks to bench him this week for Sam Darnold. Mayfield was 1-5 as the team’s starter and Wilks is not only looking for a spark on offense, but also another chance to evaluate Darnold before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next spring. Darnold was 4-7 as Carolina’s starting QB last year. Denver is last in the league in scoring and tied with Las Vegas for last place in the AFC West after losing six games by six points or less, including a 22-16 overtime defeat to the Raiders last week.