CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Sam Darnold will play in a meaningful December game for the first time in his NFL career on Sunday when the Carolina Panthers face the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He was 6-8 in December and January games during three seasons with the New York Jets and 0-3 with the Panthers last season. None had playoff implications like they do now with Carolina only a game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South.
But the No. 3 overall pick of the 2018 NFL draft isn’t approaching Sunday any differently than he is the thick red beard he’s grown during his 2-0 run as the Panthers' starting quarterback under interim coach Steve Wilks.