Cam Newton is expected to be the starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers in the coming weeks. It may not come right away, as he still gets up to speed ahead of the team's Week 10 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, but it's an inevitability at this point.

Tell that to a Panthers fan five years ago and they'll wonder what the fuss is about. But in 2021, Cam Newton has a massive opportunity to reclaim his place as the Panthers QB this season, and going forward.

According to the latest report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Panthers are operating with the possibility that incumbent starter Sam Darnold may not return this season. Darnold suffered a fracture in his throwing shoulder that could make a road back fairly difficult.

Darnold's ominous injury status is what contributed to the Cam Newton reunion in Carolina. While Newton is clearly still talented and young enough to play in the NFL, many teams didn't want to rock the boat in their respective QB rooms by bringing in a former NFL MVP with a larger-than-life persona. But conveniently, the Panthers suddenly had a need for a starting signal-caller and are somewhat familiar with the guy.

Cam Newton has every opportunity to lock in the starting job for the rest of the NFL season, and potentially 2022 if all goes well. It all depends on how much he can closely resemble the Pro Bowl QB he once was in Carolina.