The Carolina Panthers believed they could salvage their season with more efficient quarterback play. After Sam Darnold fell to injury, the front office brought Cam Newton back to the franchise. Now, his future is in peril as PJ Walker takes over yet again.

According to Adam Schefter, PJ Walker has officially replaced Cam Newton. This is troubling news for the Panthers, as the coaching staff believed Newton could provide the spark the team needed to make a playoff run.

To make matters worse, Newton wasn't replaced due to injury. Instead, he's played so poorly that Matt Rhule has benched the veteran quarterback, per Connor Hughes. This is likely the nail in the coffin for the Panthers' 2021 season, as they don't have the quarterback play necessary to make a postseason appearance.

The Panthers find themselves down 17-7 to the Atlanta Falcons at halftime. It doesn't look like Newton will return, as he's thrown for just 88 yards and one interception. He did score a rushing touchdown but has been ineffective since then.

Even so, it's not like PJ Walker has played much better. Before the halftime break, Walker threw two pass attempts, one of which resulted in an interception. It seems as though the Panthers' quarterback situation is worse than they believed.

This franchise was heavily involved in trade rumors with the Houston Texans for Deshaun Watson. Considering how aggressive the Panthers have been in building their roster, they're likely to make a push for a superstar caliber quarterback in the offseason. With rumors swirling around Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers still, Carolina will have plenty of options.