After much speculation and wondering, the Panthers gain a bit of clarity at the QB position. Per XFL analyst Paxton Lynch will be joining the XFL’s Orlando Guardians for the 2023 season. Lynch was seen today at practice wearing the number 6 on the sidelines at practice for the Guardians today.
Lynch joins the Guardians after spending 2022 with the Michigan Panthers. The former 2016 1st round pick out of Memphis, was the last QB taken in the USFL’s February 2022 draft as the backup quarterback to Shea Patterson. For the Panthers, Lynch started three games going 2-1 throwing for 550 Yards, 5 TDs to 4 INTs adding two touchdowns on the ground. Despite injuries throughout the USFL season, Lynch ended the year on a high note earning USFL Offensive Player of the Week honors for the Week 10 finale vs the Maulers.
The Guardians now show a QB room that has former FSU/FCF stand out Deondre Francois along with former CMU/Tennessee QB Quinten Dormady. With Orlando being viewed as having the weakest QB room, Lynch serves as an immediate upgrade at QB, especially with the Guardians recently releasing former D-III QB Mitch Kidd who also earned Offensive Player of The Year in the FCF.
Lynch now joins his 6th team in his 4th league during his pro football career. With the departure of Lynch the Panthers go into 2023, with Eric Barriere and Josh Love competing for the QB1 spot. Both QBs did show flashes in limited opportunity and now have a full season to learn in OC Eric Marty’s system. Regardless with the departure of Lynch look for the Panthers to add another arm in the QB room for the 2023. Currently the Panther roster sits at 63 for the 2023 pre-season.
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Birmingham Stallions
Two-Time USFL and NCAA National Champion Bo Scarbrough
Ken Granito
January 29, 2023 at 6:29 pm
To be honest, I think he throws a nice ball and it would seem like a chance to play in front of the Panther faithful would seem like the way to go. Last year he certainly seemed like a good teammate being supportive of the other quarterbacks that played for the Panthers. I think it is safe to say that Michigan deserves someone who wants to be there and someone that consistently can be counted on to lead the team. As much as I would have liked to Lynch in that role, I am not sure he can maintain it all year.