Clausen Starts If Healthy

The absolutely dreadful Carolina Panthers could be getting a little better come Week 12 as their starting quarterback Jimmy Clausen should be returning from a concussion. The QB missed last weekends contest against the Baltimore Ravens because of the injury he suffered in Week 10 down in Tampa Bay. The Charlotte Observer reports that Jimmy is scheduled to meet doctors early this week and if all goes well should be cleared to play. If he is head coach John Fox has already stated he’ll be the starter.

“I’d like to say he would (be back). But I don’t have a crystal ball. I don’t want to sit here right now and say he would, and then look like a liar 30 hours from now,” Fox said. “It’ll be day to day. As soon as he’s cleared, he’ll practice.”

Now earlier I did say the Panthers would be a little better, but realistically they won’t be that much better. I say this because Clausen’s performance haven’t been much better then last weeks starter, Brian St. Pierre, a career journey man with no real NFL career to talk about. In fact the rookie has been the worst starting quarterback in the NFL this year.

Clausen has a passer rating of only 53.8, completing a woeful 48.6% of his passes for 692 yards a touchdown and four interceptions. Just absolutely dreadful. I guess the one are where the team does get a lot better, especially Jimmy, is in health. It’s always scary when a player goes down with a concussion, especially when they suffer headaches for days after like Clausen did. Seeing him cleared by the doctors will be good news for him and his career.

“I’m feeling a lot better than I did last week,” Clausen said in the locker room. “I’m just trying to keep resting as much as I can to hopefully get back to play next week.”

Hopefully the time away from the game helped Jimmy get some time to fully grasp the teams playbook. I know they don’t have the greatest receivers in the world but he needs to show he can be the teams leader. The reason?

The Panthers currently hold the #1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. If the offense continues to struggle I don’t see how they can win another game to get out of that spot. If they don’t you then have to wonder will the Panthers draft another quarterback?

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Tags: Carolina Panthers, Jimmy Clausen, NFL