Panthers officially name Newton starting QB vs. Washington

Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule announced Friday that Cam Newton will start at quarterback versus the Washington Football Team in Week 11.

"Cam will take the first play," Rhule told reporters, via Joe Person of The Athletic.

The Panthers were expected to roll with Newton after sprinkling him into the game plan in a Week 10 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Carolina signed Newton after Sam Darnold went down with a shoulder injury, reuniting the Panthers with the charismatic signal-caller they drafted first overall in 2011.

Rhule noted that P.J. Walker, who started against the Cardinals, will "probably" see the field against Washington as well.

The Panthers haven't won at home since Week 2 when they defeated the New Orleans Saints. Newton has called on Panthers fans to provide an electric atmosphere for his first game at Bank of America Stadium since Sept. 12, 2019.

Newton spent his first nine seasons in Carolina, winning one MVP and taking the Panthers to Super Bowl 50.

Copyright (C) 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.