The Carolina Panthers are hoping for a bounce-back season after the team failed to live up to expectations during the 2016 NFL campaign. Cam Newton will play a major role in the team's attempt to get back on track but he continues to remain sidelined during the preseason.

According to Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer, Newton won't be back on the field for the Panthers' preseason game against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton will not play on Saturday against the Tennessee Titans, a source confirmed to the Observer on Friday.

It appears that Panthers head coach Ron Rivera isn't in any rush to get his superstar quarterback back on the field during the preseason. Rivera would rather have Newton ready to go for the San Francisco 49ers in the team's season-opener rather than rush him out there in games that simply don't matter for a proven star, via Rodrigue.

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He also has said that while the goal is to get Newton ready for the season-opener against San Francisco, he would be OK if the quarterback doesn’t play throughout the preseason.

Although Rivera's only concern is having Newton ready for the matchup with the 49ers, it doesn't mean the three-time Pro Bowler won't play some downs in the preseason. Newton could very well be back under center for next week's preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, via NFL.com.

Pelissero tweeted that the 28-year-old passer is “throwing more each day [and] feels fine,” per a source, adding that Newton is “on track” for Carolina's third preseason affair next week against the Jaguars.

Only time will tell when Newton will take his next snap.