Former West Virginia quarterback Will Grier is expected to get the start this week for the Carolina Panthers, according to NFL insider Ian Rapaport. Carolina plays at Indianapolis on Sunday.
Grier, drafted by Carolina in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, has served as backup to Kyle Allen since week 3, when Allen took over for injured starter Cam Newton.
Allen started well in relief of Newton but has struggled mightily since. The Panthers (5-9) have lost six straight and have been out of the playoff chase for weeks. The mid-to-late season swoon cost Carolina head coach Ron Rivera his job. Rivera was fired Dec. 3.
Interim coach Perry Fawell stuck with Allen the past two games despite his – and the team’s – struggles. If Grier gets the start Sunday it will be his first action of his NFL career.
Grier was the West Virginia starting quarterback in 2017 and 2018. Grier redshirted in 2016 after transferring to WVU from Florida, where he played six games as a freshman in 2015 before being suspended by the NCAA for testing positive for a performance enhancing substance.
