Quarterback P.J. Walker of the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks has signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the news via Twitter.
XFL news: Former Houston Roughnecks QB PJ Walker is expected to sign with the #Panthers, source said. One of the stars of the XFL lands an NFL job.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 23, 2020
XFL players were eligible to begin signing with NFL teams as of 9:00 a.m. ET on Monday and Walker is the first XFL alum to sign with a team.
Walker, who spent time in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, took the rebooted league by storm, leading the XFL with 1,338 passing yards and 15 passing touchdowns while leading Houston to an undefeated 5-0 record. Walker completed 65-percent of his passes, threw four interceptions (second-fewest with a minimum of 100 pass attempts) and finished with a 104.4 passer rating, which was second-best among XFL signal callers. He was arguably the top overall player in the league, so much so that the XFL signing period was considered the “P.J. Walker Sweepstakes”.
The Panthers signed former Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater last week and add Walker to a very interesting quarterback room in Charlotte, which is being overseen by Broyles Award winner and Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady and former Baylor head coach Matt Rhule.