Expectations are everything. The Panthers seem to be trying to manage them for their quarterback after Kyle Allen threw four interceptions against the Falcons in a game that was literally the worst that Football Outsiders has ever tracked for a QB.

Offensive coordinator Norv Turner says you have to think of Allen as a rookie, per the official team website.

“With any young player, he came in, he had some success early. . . But you have to think about him really like a rookie. If you compare him to some of the other guys that are put in the same situation, that’s the only way you’re going to get better, to learn from your mistakes.”

Turner is doing the best he can to make things easy for his “rookie” QB. His designs have consistently gotten receivers open and his creative run calls for Christian McCaffrey have taken a huge load off Allen’s shoulders.

However, there’s only so much a coordinator can do. The one thing you want a backup quarterback to do is take care of the ball and Allen is failing in that regard. He’s thrown nine interceptions this season to go with seven fumbles – an average of two turnovers per start. While that’s not quite Jameis Winston-level bad, it’s still unacceptable. Allen has also been inefficient and inaccurate. He ranks No. 30 in adjusted completion percentage and QBR and No. 34 in EPA per play.

Allen has now played 10 games in his career and has been on a roster for more than a season and a half. Treating him like a rookie is unfair to the actual rookie QB on the roster, third-round pick Will Grier.

This week, the Panthers will visit the Saints for the first time since Allen’s debut last year. If he starts bombing and throwing the ball away like he did against Atlanta and San Francisco, then Ron Rivera should seriously consider putting Grier in the game.

If he’d rather wait and not throw Grier to the wolves in such a hostile environment, the next opponent on the schedule represents a much better opportunity. Carolina will host the Redskins Week 13. They’re 1-9 this year and rank No. 28 in defensive DVOA.