The Carolina Panthers suffered a 26-21 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, dropping to 3-5 on the season. With just over a minute remaining and the Panthers threatening for a go-ahead score, left tackle Rasheed Walker was pushed into the backfield by Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto. Bonitto stripped the ball from quarterback Bryce Young, leading to a game-sealing sack-fumble recovered by Denver. Walker, who has struggled with pass protection this season, admitted Bonitto "faked the power" before beating him to the edge on the final play.
NFL Next Gen Stats show Walker has allowed 45 QB pressures through eight games, 19 more than rookie right tackle Monroe Freeling. Walker faces one-on-one situations on 79.1% of his pass sets and is typically matched up against opposing teams' best rushers. Despite the late mistake, Walker maintained he played comfortably for most of the game and identified footwork issues after watching film. He plans to attack those adjustments moving forward.
Panthers coach Dave Canales praised Bonitto's rush but noted the play could have been an incomplete pass. The Panthers now face the New Orleans Saints (3-5) in a crucial NFC South matchup. Walker emphasized the importance of consistency, stating the offensive line must keep developing to protect Bryce Young and keep the team from sinking.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing