The Carolina Panthers announced quarterback Kyle Allen will be the starter in Week 8 versus the San Francisco 49ers. Meanwhile, quarterback Cam Newton is still trying to work his way to the practice field.
The Panthers had high hopes for Newton coming out of the bye week. However, head coach Ron Rivera will be getting his work in with the trainers, via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk:
Rivera said that reporters at open portions of this week’s practices may see Newton, but it would be on a side field. Rivera said the quarterback “will be with the trainers this week” as he continues to do rehab work with his injured foot.
It appears the extra week of rest did not do much for Newton's status heading into Week 8. Rivera has already announced Allen as the starter and his comments indicate that they will take their time with Newton until he proves to be 100 percent healthy.
At this point, it is safe to say that a healthy Allen is better than an injured Newton. The Panthers had pieced together a four-game winning streak heading into the bye and now have a chance to make quite a statement by handing the 49ers their first loss of the 2019 NFL season. Rivera will likely comfortably roll out the offense with Allen as long as he continues to serve as a viable option under center.
The primary focus for Newton should be taking whatever precaution he can to ensure his availability for a potential playoff run.
Follow Us
Subscribe