Carolina could be without its most important player in the season opener.
The Carolina Panthers might hold quarterback Cam Newton out of their Week 1 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, according to Ian Rapoport. Newton has been dealing with a fractured rib since the third game of the preseason and apparently is not back to full strength.
If Newton can't play, the quarterbacking duties will fall to veteran Derek Anderson. Anderson is a capable player, having made the Pro Bowl back in 2007 with the Cleveland Browns. However, Anderson has never replicated that success and became a backup quarterback for the Panthers in 2011. Last year, Anderson played in four games but never attempted a pass.
Carolina is trying to create offensive chemistry but has not had much opportunity, with Newton sitting out the first preseason game while he recovered from an offseason ankle surgery. Many of Newton's receivers left town including Steve Smith, Ted Ginn and Brandon LaFell, replaced by Jerricho Cotchery, Kelvin Benjamin and Jason Avant.
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