Panthers QB Sam Darnold out four to six weeks with shoulder injury

As soon as it was learned Tuesday that the Carolina Panthers were signing veteran quarterback Matt Barkley from the Tennessee Titans' practice squad to serve as a backup, outside observers were able to guess that Carolina starting signal-caller Sam Darnold was worse off than "day-to-day" with a shoulder injury he suffered before Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots.

As Myles Simmons wrote for Pro Football Talk, head coach Matt Rhule confirmed Wednesday Darnold will be shut down for multiple games due to what NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (h/t Chase Goodbread) reported to be an incomplete fracture of the shoulder scapula in his throwing arm.

"I think [Darnold] knows that this is in his best interest to take care of this right now," Rhule explained during his press conference. "I think we all see that Sam’s a really tough guy. He’s willing to play through anything. But it’s an incomplete fracture, so we think we caught it where we can manage it in four to six weeks and we can get him back. Obviously, he’d love to play, but player’s health comes first."

Darnold was struggling before this setback and will now become a spectator as former XFL star P.J. Walker finds himself atop the depth chart ahead of this Sunday's matchup at the 8-1 Arizona Cardinals. Walker is essentially auditioning for the full-time job, as Rhule admitted the team is willing to "explore any and all options" regarding the position. Rhule wouldn't, however, link his team with any available quarterback, such as free agent and Panthers legend Cam Newton. 

Newton has remained unsigned since the New England Patriots released him on Aug. 31.