Report: Will Grier Expected to Make First NFL Start

NFL Network analyst Ian Rapoport reported Monday afternoon that the Carolina Panthers are expected to start former West Virginia University quarterback Will Grier this coming Sunday versus the Indianapolis Colts.

The #Panthers are expected to start QB Will Grier on Sunday vs. the #Colts, sources say. The team has not yet announced the move or made it official, but this is the direction it’s heading with Kyle Allen heading to the bench. An important evaluation moving forward.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 16, 2019

This report comes after the Panthers have struggled with quarterback Kyle Allen at the helm. Allen and the Panthers have lost six straight games with Allen throwing 15 interceptions — with three alone coming this Sunday in their loss to the Seattle Seahawks — this season, which is tied for 28th in the NFL.

Grier, a third-round draft pick for Carolina, taking the field Sunday marks his first action in the regular season of the NFL. Grier saw limited action in preseason play.

According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, Grier has yet to receive first-team reps, so the 2019 third-round pick will be leading the offense for the first team when the team takes the practice field Wednesday.

The 5-9 Panthers will kick-off at 1 p.m. Sunday against the Colts.