Cam Newton to start for Panthers against Washington?

With quarterback Sam Darnold out for at least a month due to a shoulder injury, the Carolina Panthers brought 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player Cam Newton back last week ahead of Sunday's matchup at the Arizona Cardinals and teased Newton could make appearances in that contest even though he'd only participated in a single practice with the club. Newton made a significant impact in what became a 34-10 win that improved the Panthers to 5-5 on the season. He notched a pair of touchdowns in his first two plays and announced to the football world: "I'm back!" 

According to David Newton of ESPN, Carolina's Newton will get the majority of first-team practice reps during the week. This will put the 32-year-old on track to start for Sunday's matchup against the 3-6 Washington Football Team ahead of former XFL star P.J. Walker.

"He did a great job [Sunday] having 10 plays that he was kind of ready for,'' Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said of Newton. "We'll start getting him ready. If he's ready to start, great. If he's not quite ready to do everything, obviously P.J.'s available. It's kind of that plan right now." 

In total, Newton completed three of four passes for eight yards with a touchdown and also added a rushing score at Arizona. It was speculated Newton would become Carolina's QB1 following the Cardinals game. 

"Obviously, we brought Cam because of who he is at quarterback, and we brought him here to play," Rhule told reporters last week. 

Washington, meanwhile, will be without young star defensive end Chase Young, who suffered a season-ending leg injury on Sunday.