The last we heard anything regarding the Carolina Panthers and Deshaun Watson was back on Aug. 28, when multiple reports suggested the team was not entertaining a pursuit of the troubled quarterback. Not much has changed almost two months later.

When asked by New York Daily News columnist Pat Leonard about Watson’s reported availability ahead of the league’s trade deadline, head coach Matt Rhule dismissed any thoughts about a potential in-season deal. In fact, he dismissed any thoughts about any quarterback that aren’t about the one he currently has.

“I haven’t done any work on anyone else,” Rhule told Leonard. “I believe Sam (Darnold) will be a great quarterback for the Carolina Panthers.”

“Will be” is the operative (and hopeful) term in that proclamation, as Darnold hasn’t shown any signs of greatness just yet. The fourth-year passer has struggled, particularly through the team’s last three games, having coughed up seven turnovers in the trio of defeats.

Regardless, Rhule and his coaching staff are seemingly set on seeing this journey through.

“I’m bought in on Sam,” he also said. “My biggest thing is making sure that me and Sean Ryan and Joe Brady do a better job of putting Sam in the best position. He’s my focus and I expect him to play his best football moving forward. I’m not looking anywhere else.”