Cam Newton

Following the departure of Tom Brady to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Patriots have signed Brian Hoyer and Cam Newton to join Jarrett Stidham on the depth chart at the position.

The trio have been sharing reps during training camp but the cancellation of the preseason amid the coronavirus pandemic has denied them the chance to play before Week 1 of the 2020 campaign.

Head coach Belichick has a decision to make over who starts, though made clear during a media call on Wednesday that he will do whatever gives his team the best chance of winning - including using more than one option in games.

"It might [be a benefit]," Belichick told the media when asked about the possibility of utilising multiple quarterbacks.

"Look, I always say, I'll do what I think is best for the team, what gives us the best chance to win. So, whatever that is, I would certainly consider that.

"If it's run unbalanced line, or double unbalanced line, or 23 personnel. Whatever it is. If it helps us win, then I would consider anything."

Former NFL MVP Newton signed with New England on July 8 after being released by the Carolina Panthers.

Hoyer is in his third stint with the franchise, while Stidham was a fourth-round pick in the 2019 draft who completed just two passes last season while serving as Brady's back-up.

"Right now, we want to try and give everybody an opportunity to work out the basics. We are really doing that at all the positions," Belichick said of the quarterback situation.

"Everybody is rotating through, we're trying to give everybody an opportunity to run the basic plays and get the fundamentals down.

"Of course, at some point we will have to not equalise the reps, that's obvious, but we're not there now."

The Patriots open the campaign against the Miami Dolphins on September 13.

The 2015 NFL MVP's wait to find a new team is seemingly over after the Patriots reportedly agreed terms on a one-year, incentive-laden deal with Newton on Sunday.

Newton, the first overall pick in the 2011 draft, spent nine seasons with the Carolina Panthers, leading them to the playoffs on four occasions and to Super Bowl 50, where they were beaten by the Denver Broncos.

However, he has been troubled by shoulder and foot injuries in recent seasons and the Panthers decided to move on from Newton after the 2019 season as they look to rebuild under new head coach Matt Rhule.

Newton has now landed in New England, where he will be expected to succeed Tom Brady as their starting QB, and ex-Panthers offensive coordinator Norv Turner thinks it is a savvy move from Bill Belichick's franchise.

"I think it'll be really good for Cam," Turner told Sports Illustrated. "And I think it'll be good for the Patriots."

Belichick called Turner and asked for a reference on Newton, who he coached in Carolina in 2018 and 2019.

"My whole deal is, when Cam was healthy, and we were there with him [in 2018], we were 6–2," Turner added.

"Just look at the tape - played his ass off. His issue was more health than anything else, and from what I understand, I don't think these are health issues that he can't overcome.

"He's had the time off now. I think he'll be great."

Newton posted a message on his social media accounts outlining his excitement to play for one of the most successful NFL franchises in recent years.

"I'm excited as I don't know what right now," the 31-year-old wrote.

"All praise to God! Dropping content tomorrow!! I hope you're ready!! #letsgoPats"

The former NFL MVP spent the 2020 season with New England, who went 7-9 in a disappointing first year after the departure of Tom Brady.

Quarterback Newton often struggled in a new offense with a poor supporting cast that had also hindered Brady in his last season with the Pats.

However, he will get the chance to improve in 2021 after agreeing a new deal with the team ahead of free agency, according to reports from NFL Network and ESPN.

Newton's deal is reportedly to be worth up to $14million, having surprisingly agreed to a $1m contract last year.

At that price he still represents a more affordable option after a flurry of QB moves earlier in the offseason saw Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff and Carson Wentz find new teams.

The renewal of Newton ends speculation he will link up with the Washington Football Team, who are led by his former coach at the Carolina Panthers, Ron Rivera.

With the Buffalo Bills reaching the AFC Championship Game and the Miami Dolphins rebuilding quickly with extensive draft capital, New England are suddenly under pressure in the AFC East.

And the scrutiny on their performances in 2021 will intensify after Brady won the Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

This move sees the Pats secure a starting QB ahead of free agency but will not preclude them from exploring other options at the position, according to reports.

Newton, 31, played 15 games (7-8) for New England – missing just one due to coronavirus - after injuries restricted him to playing only twice in his last of nine seasons with Carolina.

He threw for eight touchdowns to 10 interceptions with 2,657 yards through the air, though he did add 592 yards and 12 scores on the ground.

Newton also caught a TD pass from his leading receiver Jakobi Meyers in a win over the New York Jets.

After a painful year, the Patriots go into the offseason with Newton signed, one of the best salary cap situations in the league and the number 15 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Former NFL MVP Newton, who has battled shoulder and foot injuries, was released by the Panthers last month as the team moved on to Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback.

Seven-time Pro Bowler Kuechly retired at the end of the 2019 campaign but insists Newton, 30, still has plenty to offer as a starter after nine years in Charlotte.

The Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots are among the possible landing spots for the free agent, though Kuechly highlighted the move of Tannehill as another option for his old teammate.

Having left the Miami Dolphins, Tannehill joined the Tennessee Titans as backup to Marcus Mariota ahead of last season.

But he was handed a chance to start midway through the year and sensationally guided the team to the AFC Championship game before being rewarded with a four-year, $118million contract.

Kuechly told NBC Sports: "I think there's a model that's kind of in place right now with what Tannehill did in Tennessee, you come in as the backup and as a season progresses you get an opportunity.

"But obviously New England's in the conversation, the Chargers are in the conversation."

Newton recently described himself as a "fish out of water" in free agency, but his ability on the field is not something Kuechly questions.

"I think Cam, he gets back to being healthy, he's still a dangerous threat," Kuechly said.

"You look at what he's done in the past couple years, minus his injuries, he's been fantastic for us. The thing that makes Cam special is what he can do inside the pocket but also what you can do with his legs.

"To me, once he gets everything back healthy, he's gonna be back to where he was before."

After retiring at the age of 28, Kuechly hopes to remain involved in the game.

He said: "I know when the season comes around I'm going to have that pit in my stomach knowing that, man, I wish I was still out there, but hopefully I can find a way to stay involved in football somehow.

"When you talk to the production crew, you talk to guys that have played like [Jason] Witten, [Tony] Romo and Ronde [Barber], you can tell that they played at a high level.

"They still have the ability to stay involved with the game and that part is something that's attractive to me."

The Panthers released a statement on Tuesday saying they had "given Cam Newton permission to seek a trade", ending a nine-year run for the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

Though new Carolina head coach Matt Rhule stated earlier in the offseason that he "absolutely" wanted to keep the 2015 NFL MVP on the roster, the news comes as no surprise given foot and shoulder injuries have plagued Newton in recent seasons and the Panthers are rebuilding.

In the statement, general manager Marty Hurney said: "Every year difficult decisions are made and they are never easy. We have been working with Cam and his agent to find the best fit for him moving forward and he will always be a Carolina Panther in our hearts."

However, the wording of the statement - and the suggestion it was the Panthers who had allowed Newton to explore other options - led to the 30-year-old biting back.

"Stop with the word play!!" he wrote in an Instagram comment under the team's story.

"I never asked for it!! There is no dodging this one; I love the @panthers to death and will always love you guys!!

"Please do not try and play me or manipulate the narrative and act like I wanted this; you forced me into this!!"

Tight end Greg Olsen, who signed for the Seattle Seahawks last month after being released by Carolina, wrote in a comment: "Sounds familiar".

Newton, who led the Panthers to Super Bowl 50, where they lost to the Denver Broncos, is set to leave Carolina having thrown for 29,041 yards, 182 touchdowns and 108 interceptions in his career.

ESPN claims former NFL MVP quarterback Newton will join the Patriots on an incentive-laden contract.

Newton is set to try and help the Patriots fill the void left by legendary QB Tom Brady, who departed New England for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers via free agency.

The 31-year-old Newton was released by the Carolina Panthers in March, having spent nine seasons in Charlotte and thrown for 29,041 yards, 182 touchdowns and 108 interceptions.

Newton was the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, selected by the Panthers.

He won the MVP in the 2015 season, which saw him lead the Panthers to Super Bowl 50, where they lost to the Denver Broncos.

The Panthers made the playoffs in four of Newton's nine seasons with the team.

However, in recent years, Newton has been hindered by injuries.

Newton battled a shoulder injury in 2018, with a once-promising campaign derailed as the Panthers lost seven of their last eight games to finish 7-9.

He played only two games in 2019, losing both, with Lisfranc fracture forcing him to watch the rest of a 5-11 season from the sideline.

Darnold was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, leaving the 4-5 Panthers short under center with P.J. Walker set for his second NFL start against the Arizona Cardinals.

However, the Panthers moved quickly on Thursday to agree a deal for a free agent they know well.

Newton was released by the New England Patriots in training camp this year as Bill Belichick instead went with rookie QB Mac Jones in Foxborough.

The dual-threat QB had also been released by Carolina following the 2019 season, moving on under new coach Matt Rhule following an injury-hit year.

Newton played only two games in 2019 due to a Lisfranc fracture in Week 2, having only returned from a shoulder issue at the start of the season.

Having been the league MVP in 2015 with the Panthers, throwing 35 touchdown passes and rushing for a further 10 scores, Newton's performances with New England were rather more ordinary.

Still retaining that same athleticism, the 32-year-old had 12 rushing TDs in 2020, his most in any season since his rookie year.

But Newton was poor through the air, tossing eight TDs to 10 interceptions and moving the ball just 7.07 air yards per attempt as the Pats ranked 23rd for yards per passing play (6.06).

That might still represent an upgrade on Darnold, though, who has the Panthers 30th by the same metric this year with 5.42 yards per play.

Like Newton, Darnold has provided a threat with his legs, scoring five rushing TDs, but he has thrown only seven scores to 11 picks.

Carolina exercised Darnold's fifth-year option following his trade from the New York Jets but will now be paying former favourite Newton up to $10million to potentially fill his boots this year, according to reports. That includes $4.5m guaranteed and a $1.5m roster bonus.

Newton will play for NFL powerhouse the Patriots in 2020 after signing a one-year deal following his Carolina Panthers release in March.

Former NFL MVP Newton's base salary this upcoming season will be worth just $1.05million, with $500,000 in guaranteed money.

If Newton reaches every incentive and per-game roster bonus, the 31-year-old quarterback could earn an additional $6.45m. 

Amid talk about his salary, Newton – who is set to help fill the void left by Tom Brady in New England – used social media to respond.

"It's not a lot of things MONEY cannot buy, BUT amongst the top of that list of things, you would find RESPECT as one of those!!" Newton wrote on Instagram hours after his contract details became public. 

"THIS IS NOT ABOUT MONEY FOR ME; it’s about RESPECT."

Newton spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Panthers after he was chosen first overall in the 2011 NFL Draft – throwing for 29,041 yards, 182 touchdowns and 108 interceptions.

He is a three-time Pro Bowl selection and was named the 2015 NFL MVP after leading the Panthers to a 15-1 record and an appearance in the Super Bowl before losing to the Denver Broncos.

The Panthers made the playoffs in four of Newton's nine seasons with the team.

However, in recent years, Newton has been hindered by injuries.

Newton battled a shoulder injury in 2018, with a once-promising campaign derailed as the Panthers lost seven of their last eight games to finish 7-9.

He played only two games in 2019, losing both, with Lisfranc fracture forcing him to watch the rest of a 5-11 season from the sideline.

Cam Newton revealed on Monday he does not know whether he will be preferred to Mac Jones for the Week 1 game against the Miami Dolphins on September 12.

"No, [Belichick] hasn't said that," he said on Monday. "It is what it is.

"Every single day, I'm coming out here with the anticipation to just get better, and that's the only thing that I can do, so I can control that."

Newton is returning in 2021 after a difficult first year with the Patriots following Tom Brady's departure for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The former Carolina Panthers QB, who was the MVP in 2015, threw for 2,657 yards and eight touchdowns – his lowest career marks across a full season – as well as 10 interceptions.

Starting 15 games after seeing his final campaign in Carolina disrupted by injury, Newton's arm appeared to be impacted as he threw for just 7.07 air yards on average.

His 103 carries excluding scrambles led the NFL at his position, but his 4.06 yards per carry were comfortably below average.

Newton now has competition from Jones, who was selected with the 15th overall pick after leading Alabama to the College Football Playoff National Championship title.

Jones put up 4,500 yards, 41 TDs and only four picks, ranking first among Power 5 QBs in completion percentage (79.1) and third in well-thrown percentage (83.2).

The 22-year-old was also below par in air yards (8.52) and yards per carry (2.09), however.

Newton is widely expected to start ahead of Jones for now, but the three-time Pro Bowler understands the reasons for such questions.

"I don't take it personal," Newton said. "I just want you guys to understand everything you know I know. There's no hidden motives or things like that.

"I do know those things like that I can't worry about, because each and every day I don't necessarily care about who's starting.

"I mostly care about making sure I put the best product out there for me. I know Mac is feeling the same, and I know Brian [Hoyer] is feeling the same way, and everyone else, going down each and every position.

"As far as Week 1, we have so much to worry about prior to Week 1; that's where my focus is right now."

New England have confirmed one of their players has tested positive for COVID-19 and is self-isolating, with ESPN and NFL Network among the outlets to confirm it is quarterback Newton who had the virus.

The 2-1 Patriots face the 3-0 defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

A New England statement read: "Late last night, we received notice that a Patriots player tested positive for COVID-19.

"The player immediately entered self-quarantine. Several additional players, coaches and staff who have been in close contact with the player received points of care tests this morning and all were negative for COVID-19.

"We are in close consultation with the NFL, as well as our team of independent doctors and specialists, and will follow their guidance regarding our scheduled trip to Kansas City and game against the Chiefs.

"The health and safety of our team, as well as our opponent, are of highest priority."

A miserable Sunday for the Panthers saw them go down to a 33-10 loss in Miami, their third defeat in four games.

It was a rough outing for former MVP Newton, who recently returned to the team with whom he made his name as a free agent signing. 

He completed only five of his 21 passes for 92 yards and two interceptions, adding one touchdown on the ground.

Newton was replaced by P.J. Walker with the Panthers (5-7) down 20 in the closing stages, head coach Matt Rhule later explaining the backup had a better grasp of the two-minute offense.

Ex-New England Patriots QB Newton hopes to use the Panthers' bye week to get more familiar with the system before a Week 14 divisional game at home to the Atlanta Falcons.

And Rhule, who cited poor pass protection in explaining Newton's struggles, is not planning to make a move at a position where Sam Darnold and Walker have previously started for the team this season.

"I'm not making any changes right now," Rhule said after the game. "At the end of the day, we weren't protecting the quarterback at all.

"It wouldn't be fair to keep Cam in there and keep getting him hit.''

NFL Research said Newton's completion percentage of just 23.8 was the lowest by a QB with 20-plus attempts in a game since 2004.

Newton, who had looked much better in the narrow loss at Washington last week, had no complaints about Rhule's decision to take him out of the Dolphins game.

"I was fine with that,'' said Newton. "At the end of the day, it's still about being a professional. 

"At that particular point, I had more than enough opportunities to keep the game in the balance. There's no need to put up a fight with that.

"It really got exposed because of the situation, not having a full grasp [of the offense]. Nobody to blame, more so the situation I came into. 

"Having this week to kind of self-scout and dive into what the root of this offense is all about, that's what I plan on doing."

Newton added: "This is the NFL. Nothing's promised.

"Just because Cam Newton's on your roster doesn't mean you're just gonna win. Just because it's a feel-good story doesn't mean you're gonna win. I'm well aware of that."

It was a much better day for the Dolphins, who have now won four straight games to rally from a woeful 1-7 start to a 5-7 record.

Tua Tagovailoa was on the money with 27 completions from just 31 pass attempts for 230 yards and a touchdown.

He became only the fourth player in NFL history to record a completion percentage of 80 or more in consecutive games (minimum 30 pass attempts).

The only two QBs to have achieved the feat before this season are Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, while Kyler Murray also did so for the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2 and 3 of this year.

There were other landmarks for the Dolphins too. Cornerback Xavien Howard claimed one of the interceptions on Newton to reach 25 for his career.

The pick meant he surpassed Marcus Peters to become the fastest player to reach 25 interceptions since 1990, doing so in just 67 games.

And rookie wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who had nine catches for a career-high 137 yards, now has 77 receptions through his first 12 career games.

That is the second-best tally in NFL history behind only Odell Beckham Jr (91), who made an explosive start to his career with the New York Giants in 2014.

Head coach Matt Rhule said earlier in the week that the Panthers were "trending" towards starting Newton.

And he confirmed on Friday that the franchise's first overall pick in 2011, who returned for a second spell last week, would get the start under center in Week 11.

Newton will come up against a Washington team led by Ron Rivera, previously his coach in Carolina.

"He's really done a nice job learning the game plan for this week,'' Rhule said of the QB. "He's worked really hard. He's really a smart player. Really a smart quarterback.''

"The energy is awesome. I don't mean to ever diminish it. I just love the fact that he's on the practice field, he throws his last ball each period, turns and runs a lap and runs back. It's way more to me about the example being set.

"We all understand Cam is a force of nature almost in terms of the things he brings. But I don't want it to be all that people realise. What I see is a true professional that wants to win and puts the time in.''.

Newton made his second debut against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday and had an instant impact, producing two moments that will live long in the memory.

His first touch saw him find the endzone on a two-yard run to give the Panthers the lead, and on his second he connected with Robby Anderson on a two-yard touchdown pass as Carolina cruised to a 34-10 win.

P.J. Walker was the starter at Arizona, and Rhule suggested he will still get some snaps in relief of Newton against Washington as the Panthers look to boost their playoff hopes and move to 6-5.

"We'll have both guys ready," he added. "Game plan wise, we could see a myriad of different things happen.''

Newton was the 2015 NFL MVP during an initial nine-year Panthers career before he was released in March 2020.

The quarterback landed at the New England Patriots in July of that year on a one-year deal, replacing the great Tom Brady.

Although that contract was renewed for 2021, the emergence of rookie QB Mac Jones meant Newton was cut before the season started.

Newton had thrown just eight touchdown passes to 10 interceptions in New England but added 12 rushing scores – the most by a QB since his own 2011 record of 14 – and did enough to earn another job with the Panthers.

With Sam Darnold injured after an indifferent start in Carolina, Newton re-joined the team in November.

The 32-year-old scored a rushing TD in each of his first five games back, one short of Johnny Lujack's QB streak of six in 1950. Three games with a passing TD and a rushing TD boosted Newton's own record tally to 45 such games.

However, Newton later lost his place to Darnold and finished the year with a career-low passer rating of 64.4.

Still, almost three months on from the Panthers' final game of the season, the team are considering their future with Darnold while Newton is again without a team.

"I have teams that are interested in signing me," Newton told ESPN. "I am waiting on the best fit as it pertains to winning a championship and getting a fair chance to play."

Coach Matt Rhule said on Tuesday: "I love Cam Newton. He's an amazing leader. He's an amazing football player.

"Everything we do has to be right for the organisation, right for him."

The Panthers have the sixth overall pick in 2022, but it is a draft light on quarterback talent. Meanwhile, various trades and moves in free agency have left both the team and Newton short of alternative options.

Newton has expressed his excitement after negotiating a one-year, $7.5million contract with Bill Belichick's team, who saw six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady leave in free agency.

Former NFL MVP Newton was released by the Carolina Panthers in March after nine seasons with the franchise, the end of his stay having been impacted by shoulder and foot injuries.

The 31-year-old quarterback faced an uncertain future as he remained unsigned through the start of free agency and the draft period until striking a deal with the Patriots this week.

Cousins is intrigued to see how the move plays out and thinks Belichick may surprise people with his plans for Newton and a QB room which also includes Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer.

"It was going to be fascinating regardless of who is there because of Tom leaving," Minnesota Vikings QB Cousins said to Inside the Huddle.

"But I'm excited to see how it works out with Cam or Brian Hoyer or whoever they play and how they mix them in.

"I know coach Belichick will have a plan and it may not be what everyone thinks.

"It will be interesting when you look at what coach Belichick has done bringing in players in a unique situation for many years.

"It's always seemed to work out. He rarely has a player who comes in who had success elsewhere and then comes in and struggles in New England so I would think it's a good situation for Cam.

"To go to an organisation that really has a plan, has a way to win and they can plug him in.

"And it's only a one-year contract so if it works out really well and they have a lot of success, Cam will be in a great position to see where his next step can be."

Lynn explained it was the Chargers' confidence in their own players that led to their decision not to add him to their roster.

Newton remains unsigned almost two months after his release from the Carolina Panthers, having spent nine seasons in Charlotte.

After Philip Rivers' departure, the Chargers were seen as one of his most likely landing spots but they declared Tyrod Taylor as starter before drafting Justin Herbert at number six overall.

With it looking likely Newton will settle for a backup job in 2020 unless there is a major QB injury, Lynn talked up the 31-year-old's credentials as he confirmed the Chargers considered signing him.

Asked if the team explored the possibility, Lynn told CBS Sports Radio: "Absolutely, Cam is a tremendous quarterback.

"He's been MVP of this league, he's led his team to the Super Bowl and he's healthy now from what I hear. 

"Cam is going to be on somebody's roster and he's going to help somebody win a few games, but yeah, we did take a look at that, sure."

"I feel really good about the quarterback room that I have," Lynn added, as he explained why the Chargers opted not to sign Newton before the draft.

"With Tyrod Taylor, Easton Stick - those are guys that a lot of people don't talk about. He [Stick] was a Division I AA, he won like three National Championships. 

"He's a hell of a leader, hell of a professional and I think he has a bright future in this league one day."

Meanwhile, Rivers – who left the Chargers for the Indianapolis Colts after 16 seasons – is already making a strong impression with his new team.

Rivers only signed a one-year, $25million deal and has a deal in place to coach high school football in Alabama after his NFL career is over.

But Colts coach Frank Reich said the "spirit" of their agreement was a multi-year pact.

"I can just tell you I really believe it's Philip's intent to play multiple years," he said, per The Athletic. "I'm very optimistic."

Patriots quarterback Newton fumbled late as it cost New England the chance at a game-tying field goal and possibly a chance to win away to the Bills on Sunday.

Bills defensive tackle Justin Zimmer stripped Newton of the ball with 31 seconds remaining – the Patriots falling to 2-5 for the season following a fourth consecutive defeat.

While it was Newton's only turnover, it came after the former MVP threw three interceptions and was withdrawn in a blow-out loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7.

Newton, who joined the Patriots on a one-year deal following his Carolina Panthers exit to replace legendary QB Tom Brady, said: "I gotta protect the ball better. I know that has just been kind of like a broken record of late.

"I am still jeopardising this team's success because of my lacklustre performance of protecting the football. Coach [Bill Belichick] trusts me with the ball in his hand and I wouldn't want it any other way. I just have to do a better job protecting it.

"It's extremely frustrating, but this league is not what have you done for us, but what have you done lately? I understand this is a production-based league."

Newton was 15-of-25 for 174 yards and no touchdowns, while he rushed for one TD in Buffalo.

The three-time Pro Bowler has tallied 103 completions from 156 attempts for 1,143 yards, two touchdowns and seven interceptions this season.

The Bills snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Patriots, dating back to October 2016, as AFC East leaders Buffalo improved to 6-2, three and a half games clear of slumping New England.

"That situation, game on the line, I'm dominantly right-handed. Prior to me putting the ball in my left hand, which is my weakest arm, I just felt more comfortable with the ball in my right hand," Newton continued. "I usually always change it around with my right hand, just for comfort.

"Coach preaches each and every day to protect the football, play smart football. I'm converting to it. Outside of this last play, I think that is what makes it so frustrating, being that you are trying extremely hard. When you don't get the results you want, then what do you do?"

Yet through two appearances and one start, Newton's second act in Charlotte appears to be one worthy of the price of admission, if not one that will yield the honours that came during their initial nine-season association.

The Panthers lost in Week 11 with Newton starting at quarterback, a 27-21 defeat to the Washington Football Team and former Carolina coach Ron Rivera dealing a significant blow to hopes of securing a Wild Card berth in the NFC.

But the Panthers are a long way from being dead in the water and, while Newton is not the player he was when he won the MVP in 2015, his performance against Washington at least suggested his encouraging play in preseason for the New England Patriots was not a mirage.

At 5-6, Carolina can ill-afford too many more slip-ups if the Panthers are to return to the playoffs, raising the question: can Cam Newton save their season?

An upgrade over Darnold

It's a very small sample size, but the early evidence indicates Newton, the man head coach Matt Rhule and the Panthers let go after the 2019 season, represents an upgrade of his most recent batch of successors.

In the defeat to Washington, Newton delivered an accurate, well-thrown ball on 81.5 per cent of his passes, according to Stats Perform data, and did not throw a single interceptable pass.

Newton was brought back to replace the injured Sam Darnold, whom the Panthers traded for in the offseason. Darnold's well-thrown percentage of 80 for the season is still above the league average of 78.5, but his pickable pass rate of 4.21 per cent is inferior to the league-wide average of 3.62, Carolina's hopes of turning around his career after a dismal start with the New York Jets quickly fading.

The threat posed by Newton's athletic upside was also apparent last week. He averaged 5.86 yards per carry on designed runs, including a 24-yard rushing touchdown on a perfectly executed zone-read.

Prior to that score, Newton threw the Panthers' first touchdown of the game by faking a quarterback draw up the middle to draw up the two safeties and a middle linebacker guarding the endzone, giving him a much simpler throw to D.J. Moore on the slant route.

Darnold can himself make an impact with his legs, however, the combination of Newton's accuracy throwing the ball and his more pronounced threat on the ground led to an exciting albeit losing effort that gives optimism the Panthers' offense can be more potent as he digests Joe Brady's playbook.

Yet one element of his supporting cast may limit the ceiling of a Newton-led attack.

Protection issues a pressing concern

Newton is not short of elite talent around him. Christian McCaffrey delivered a reminder of his status as one of the game's top all-round running backs last Sunday. He demonstrated his burst by averaging 3.7 yards before contact per attempt and his ability to evade defenders in the backfield with an average of 5.5 yards per carry on rush attempts where there was a rush disruption.

Additionally, McCaffrey hauled in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Newton, one on which the quarterback showcased exquisite touch and placement to loft the ball over the outstretched arm of a linebacker and into the running back's grasp.

Top receiver Moore is producing a burn, which is when a receiver wins his matchup with a defender when he is targeted, 68 per cent of the time, with his burn yards per route average of 3.3 putting him tied for 11th among wideouts with at least 10 targets.

Newton and McCaffrey being on the field at the same time can put defenses in a significant bind when faced with the zone-read, as Newton's rushing score against Washington proved, with both substantial threats to gain major yardage on the ground.

Moore's continued ascension gives Newton a bonafide number one receiver, yet the impact of having two top-tier skill-position weapons will be mitigated if the Panthers cannot improve on the offensive line.

Indeed, the Panthers entered Week 12 ranked 30th in pass protection win percentage while only the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets have allowed more quarterback pressures than Carolina's 204.

Even in his 11th season, Newton boasts a skill set ideally suited to the modern game and has the weapons to succeed, yet his ability to do so will be restricted if he is under duress as much as Panthers signal-callers have been in 2021.

Home stretch filled with obstacles

The hope for Carolina this month comes in the form of that Dolphins offensive line, which a Panthers defense allowing the second-fewest yards per play (4.91) in the NFL faces in Week 12.

Yet beyond this week and games with the Atlanta Falcons and a seemingly crumbling New Orleans Saints team, the schedule offers little for the Panthers to get excited about.

They face defending Super Bowl champions the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Tom Brady, unlikely to be daunted by the Carolina defense, twice before the end of the regular season, while a Buffalo Bills team whose defense is well-positioned to take advantage of poor pass protection and whose offense is tied for the league lead with 37 touchdowns host the Panthers in Week 15.

Carolina's remaining schedule is the eighth toughest in the NFL by winning percentage and, in a race for the Wild Card spots with three surging teams in the Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles, the chances of the Panthers overcoming such a hurdle look small, particularly given the potentially fatal flaw they have up front.

Still, the combination of Newton, McCaffrey, Moore and one of the most efficient defenses in the league at least offers reason for hope. Can Newton save Carolina's season? Probably not, but he gives them a better shot than any other quarterback they have started this season.

New England confirmed one of their players had contracted the virus shortly after multiple reports emerged that starting quarterback Cam Newton had tested positive. 

It was then reported that Jordan Ta'amu, a quarterback on the Chiefs' practice squad, was also being placed on the NFL's Reserve/COVID list. 

A statement from the NFL read: "The New England-Kansas City game scheduled for 4.25pm ET Sunday will be rescheduled to Monday or Tuesday after positive COVID-19 tests on both teams. 

"In consultation with infectious disease experts, both clubs are working closely with the NFL and the NFLPA to evaluate multiple close contacts, perform additional testing and monitor developments. 

"All decisions will be made with the health and safety of players, team and gameday personnel as our primary consideration."

Tennessee's home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, initially scheduled for this Sunday, has already been moved back to Week 7 following a coronavirus outbreak within the Titans.

Even in this season of shock results without any clear Super Bowl favourite, Week 10 stood out for its sheer number of upsets.

The defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers were stunned by the Washington Football Team, the Miami Dolphins overturned the Baltimore Ravens and the short-handed league-leading Arizona Cardinals lost to the Carolina Panthers.

When the San Francisco 49ers then beat NFC West rivals the Los Angeles Rams in Monday Night Football, it became the first week in NFL history in which four teams had won by double-digits having entered the week at least four wins behind their opponents.

Week 11 looks no easier to call, and there are plenty of intriguing matchups before even considering the potential for further setbacks for some favourites.

Dallas Cowboys (7-2) @ Kansas City Chiefs (6-4)

With Patrick Mahomes back on form, two of the best teams in the NFL should be set for a titanic tussle at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

Mahomes, setting aside his shaky displays to that point, threw for 406 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions against the Las Vegas Raiders last week, becoming the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to have two games of 400-plus passing yards, five-plus TD passes and no picks in his career.

The 41-14 win represented the league-leading 10th time the Chiefs have scored 40 points in a game since the start of the 2018 season, yet they were topped by the Cowboys, whose 43-3 defeat of the Atlanta Falcons was their biggest since a 48-7 victory over Arizona in 2000.

The Cowboys have gone 5-2-1 all-time previously in games following a win of at least 40 points (including playoffs), but this was an unprecedented success. The team's 29 points in the second quarter in Week 10 were their most in a single quarter of any game in their history.

Indianapolis Colts (5-5) @ Buffalo Bills (6-3)

Neither the Chiefs nor the Cowboys can match the Bills' average winning margin of 26.3 points this year. That is the highest mark in the NFL, having been boosted by last week's 45-17 victory over the New York Jets, their NFL-leading sixth win by 15 or more points.

The Cowboys are ahead of the Bills in points per game, but Buffalo have given up the fewest points per game. The last team to lead on both offense and defense in this regard were the 2005 Colts.

The achievements of this year's Colts team have been rather more modest. Their five wins have come against teams with a combined record of 13-34 (.261).

Still, Jonathan Taylor has excelled, scoring a rushing touchdown in seven straight games – the last NFL player to reach eight was DeAngelo Williams in 2008. In fact, there is rushing talent on both sides of the ball, with the Bills last week having four different players score rushing TDs for the first time in team history.

Arizona Cardinals (8-2) @ Seattle Seahawks (3-6)

Another week, another big NFC West game. The Cardinals' form has tailed away a little since Kyler Murray's injury, but they are still unbeaten on the road and looking to start 6-0 away from home for only the second time in franchise history.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks have their starting QB back, but Russell Wilson did little to help their offense against the Green Bay Packers. He was shut out for the first time in his NFL career in his 166th start (including playoffs).

Seattle's problems on that side of the ball did not end there, though. They were held to under 100 rushing yards for a third consecutive game for the first time since the end of the 2016 season, while only twice in the 21st century have they seen such a streak extended to four games.

Whether or not the Seahawks recover this week, history suggests they are likely to be able to stick with the Cardinals. Six of the past 10 meetings between the teams have been decided by three points or fewer.

Elsewhere...

Cam Newton's Panthers face Ron Rivera's Washington, their first meeting since both left Carolina (Newton returned last week). This is the third time since 2010 a former MVP QB has faced the coach he won his award with, following Peyton Manning versus Jim Caldwell in 2015 and Tom Brady against Bill Belichick earlier this season.

The 49ers are now 4-1 when Jimmy Garoppolo's passer rating is above 100.0 this year (141.7 vs. the Rams) and 0-3 when it is not. He was helped last week by a season-high 156 rushing yards, keeping San Francisco's offense on the ball for just over 39 minutes. They should expect more of the same against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have failed to force a turnover in six games this season.

The Cincinnati Bengals need both of their former LSU stars to rediscover some form at the Raiders. Joe Burrow has thrown an interception in five straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL, while Ja'Marr Chase – surely not helped by his QB's struggles – has fallen short of 50 receiving yards in consecutive games after making that mark in his first seven appearances.

The Detroit Lions will hope to learn from next opponents the Cleveland Browns, who have returned to contention since in 2018 becoming the first team in the Super Bowl era to end a losing streak of 10-plus games with a tie. Last week, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Lions became the second.

Panthers general manager Fitterer on Friday revealed Darnold is the frontrunner to start under center when the new campaign gets under way.

Carolina missed out on Deshaun Watson, who was traded to the Cleveland Browns last week.

That leaves Darnold and P.J. Walker as the only quarterbacks on the roster, with the 24-year-old set to get the nod.

"Sam's on the roster as I sit here right now," Fitterer said. "He's in the lead for that job. We want him to take it and run with it.

"But we're gonna add a lot of competition to that room. The whole emphasis is to stabilise the quarterback position to play winning football."

That competition could come in the form of Newton, who rejoined the Panthers last November after Darnold sustained a shoulder injury.

A former number one overall pick, Newton's return did not go to plan as Carolina lost all five games he started.

The 32-year-old threw for 684 yards and had five interceptions, but Fitterer says he is being considered by the Panthers.

"The thing with Cam, it's got to be a fit for us and it’s got to be a fit for him just as well," Fitterer said.

"He’s looking for a certain opportunity. The door's still open for us. We're very open to Cam. We'll see where it goes. He knows where we stand."