Panthers’ Baker Mayfield ‘rolling with the punches’ as QB2

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Baker Mayfield, despite being healthy enough to play on Sunday when the Carolina Panthers face the Atlanta Falcons, is accepting his role as the backup to journeyman quarterback PJ Walker.

This will be the first time since the first three games of his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns that the top pick of the 2018 draft hasn’t started when healthy.

“It’s one of those things. It’s one of those new things,” Mayfield said Thursday in his first interview since being sidelined for two games with a high ankle sprain. “You just have to roll with the punches. It’s not my plan, obviously. I’m a competitor, but I’m rolling with the punches to help this team out in any way I can.

“I came here to win. If it’s my role to help PJ out from the sideline and help this defense out with scout team stuff, I’m gonna do it. And I’m gonna do it with everything I can.”

Mayfield added he doesn’t want to be traded before Tuesday’s NFL deadline.

“I’ve spent enough times with these guys,” Mayfield said. “I want to be here.”

Mayfield said this situation is different than it was in Cleveland in the spring when he asked to be traded after the Browns began pursuing former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.

“That’s a very different scenario,” said Mayfield, who was acquired by the Panthers in a July trade. “They were 1-31 before I got there. That’s very different. I’m not going to get into that. It’s not even comparable situations.”

Mayfield also admitted he’s at a crossroads in his career as he plays out his fifth-year option on his initial NFL contract.

“It’s obviously instrumental,” Mayfield said. “Fifth-year option. There’s no more guarantees that I’ll be here. So I’m just trying to handle it as well as I possibly can, do whatever role that is and do it the best I can and roll with the punches.

“I trust the opinions in this building that they see the work I put in constantly and I want the team to win. That’s just who I am.”

Despite the decision to go…