Following full participation in consecutive practices on Monday and Tuesday, Cam Newton will suit up for tonight’s preseason matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Tonight will be Newton’s first game since the Panthers took on the Buccaneers on New Year’s Day. The 2015 NFL MVP had been limited in OTAs and training camp following offseason surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff in his throwing arm.
Rivera has maintained that the signal-caller will most definitely be under center in Week 1. Fans will also get their first look at second round draft pick Curtis Samuel.
The former Ohio Buckeye had been sidelined since the first practice of training camp with a strained hamstring. Samuel returned to team drills on Monday after using the past couple of weeks to slowly adjust to an increased workload. He took a few snaps with the first team offense.
The plan is for most of the starters to play into the third quarter; however, Samuel and Newton will retire to the sidelines a little earlier.