QB Cam Newton returned to Panthers 'to win football games'

Cam Newton had been a free agent since his release from the New England Patriots on Aug. 31 until he returned to the Panthers this week after Carolina signal-caller Sam Darnold went down for at least a month with a shoulder injury. 

The 2015 NFL MVP participated in his first practice with the 4-5 Panthers on Friday ahead of Sunday's game at the 8-1 Arizona Cardinals and spoke with reporters after the fact about how this homecoming came to be. 

"When you thought about the question, you ask yourself personally, 'What are you looking to in a team?' One of them, not in no particular order, are they a contender?" Newton explained, per Nick Shook of the league's website. "Two is what's the chances, do you have a realistic opportunity to be so late in the season to compete? No. 3, what's the skill set around, so you can show your talents as well? Check, check, check. It was a no-brainer, and obviously, there was an added dimension where the familiarity here...

"But once again, I get to the point of everybody wants to make it about Cam's back, this, that and the third. It's really not. It's really ... look, you know why I'm here, and this ain't for no ploy, this ain't for no ticket sales, this ain't for no Cinderella story. It's to win football games, and that's pretty much what's on my heart and that's how I'm going about it."

While former XFL star P.J. Walker is in line to start Sunday ahead of newly acquired backup option Matt Barkley, head coach Matt Rhule, general manager Scott Fitterer and offensive coordinator Joe Brady have all teased this week that Newton could see some action in Arizona. The 32-year-old left no doubt he'll be prepared to contribute if called upon Sunday.

"There's an old saying, stay ready so you won't have to get ready, and safe to say I've been staying pretty ready," he added during his comments. 

Even if Walker guides the Panthers to an upset win this weekend, all indications are he would have to play at an elite level to keep Newton out of the lineup for the Nov. 21 matchup against the Washington Football Team.