Panthers QB Sam Darnold resumes throwing, could be available after bye

Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule sat quarterback Cam Newton in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 33-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins but, per David Newton of ESPN, committed to starting Newton coming off the bye when Carolina faces the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 12. 

Interestingly, Rhule told reporters Monday that former starting signal-caller Sam Darnold has resumed throwing exercises as he works to recover from what was reported to be an incomplete fracture of the shoulder scapula in his throwing arm. 

"We’ll get him back next week, see where he’s at in his process and go from there," Rhule said of Darnold, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. 

Critics may say neither Newton nor Darnold is Rhule's long-term answer at the sport's most important position, but Darnold is still only 24 years old and, theoretically, has a higher ceiling of the two options. However, per ESPN stats, the former New York Jets starter is 32nd among eligible quarterbacks with a 71.3 passer rating, 27th with a 35.6 total QBR and has matched seven touchdown passes with 11 interceptions during the campaign.

Newton, meanwhile, completed only 5-of-21 passes for 92 yards with two interceptions and a 5.8 quarterback rating against Miami before he was replaced by former XFL star P.J. Walker when the game's result was already determined.