Panthers OC Joe Brady teases QB Cam Newton could play at Cardinals

With starting quarterback Sam Darnold out at least a month due to a shoulder injury, the Carolina Panthers brought 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player and club legend Cam Newton out of free agency and back to where he played the best football of his professional career. 

Former XFL star P.J. Walker is on track to start under center for Carolina at the 8-1 Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, but both head coach Matt Rhule and general manager Scott Fitterer suggested Newton could take the field in Arizona, even though he only had his first practice with this version of the Panthers on Friday. 

Newton obviously isn't ready to start for his new employer, but offensive coordinator Joe Brady said ahead of the weekend he may already have some plays in mind for the 32-year-old. 

"Everything’s on the table right now," Brady explained when asked about Newton potentially taking snaps against the Cardinals, per Anthony Rizzuti of Panthers Wire. "We’ll kinda evaluate from a day-to-day standpoint, without getting into specifics. And we’ll see what today brings, kinda how things progress. Just be ready to rock on Sunday and see how things go."

Newton is a veteran who has seen everything an NFL defense can throw his way and also possesses size and athleticism that could make him a useful asset in short-yardage and certain red-zone situations. He may only need to know one page of the playbook by Sunday afternoon to benefit a Carolina team looking to improve to 5-5 on the season.