As a Chicago Bears fan, I’m amazed when other teams start their second string quarterback and have success. Not just the team, but the quarterback plays well. In the NFL you can win some games with a strong running game, great defense, and a good special teams. Last Sunday, Teddy Bridgewater was unable to go for the Carolina Panthers, and was ruled out with an injury. Panthers inserted their back-up quarterback P.J. Walker and came away with a victory versus the Detroit Lions. Who the hell is P.J. Walker and did the Bears even express any interest in the former XFL star?

P.J. Walker was the best quarterback in the Spring Football League during the second coming of the XFL. Many are thinking the second coming of Weekend at Bernie’s when it comes to the sequel of the XFL. In this case, the sequel is better. XFL Part 2 only lasted 5 weeks because the league had to shut down operations due to the Covid spread. Walker played for the Houston Roughnecks and led the league in passing yards and touchdown passes. Most importantly, Walker had the Roughnecks at 5-0 record.

P.J Walker came out of Temple University. There, Walker led the Owls to their first conference title in 49 years in 2016. Walker led the Owls to back-to-back bowl games. First time that ever happened in Temple Football history. Leaving Temple, Walker owns most of the records as quarterback. Walker’s Owl records had the most passing yards, touchdown passes, attempts, and completions. The biggest stat in college and the XFL play is wins; he left Temple with the most in school history and left Houston undefeated before they shut down the league.

P.J Walker signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2017 as an undrafted free agent. Walker would spend time on the Colts’ practice squad. Then Walker was released and found his way to the XFL. After the shutdown of the XFL, all the players in the league became free agents. Walker was plucked immediately by Carolina, and was reunited with his former coach, Matt Rhule. Rhule was head coach at Temple University and is the head coach of the Panthers. A reunion is expected between player and coach.

P.J. Walker’s first start in the NFL overall was pretty good. The Lions are an embarrassment one week, and world beaters the next week. You never know what you will get. Walker showed poise in the pocket, not losing his shit at any sign of pressure. Walker had zip on his passes and a quick release. Walker’s day ended up 24-34-258 yards, touchdown but two interceptions. That’s your typical day from the likes of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Phillip Rivers. Walker seems like he has a gunslinger mentality as he held on to the ball longer at times waiting to deliver a strike which can be good, but mostly bad and at times just ugly. Walker will try to force things into tight windows like a Brett Farve. Bottom line is Walker helped the Panthers break a losing streak with the win over the Lions. Walker may be that guy like a Jimmy Garoppolo that wins many games. Some do not look pretty, but the bottom line is a win is a win. It is so typical that a guy like Matt Rhule finds guys like Walker, while the Bears Head Coach, Matt Nagy, has Tyler Bray following him from town to town.