Superman will not be taking flight this week. Panthers coach Matt Rhule announced Sam Darnold will start Sunday in New Orleans, benching Cam Newton after consecutive losses to Washington, Miami, Atlanta, Buffalo and Tampa Bay. The former MVP played poorly over that stretch, struggling to a 54.1 completion percentage with six turnovers including five interceptions.
Similar to last season, Newton has been an effective ball-carrier (five rushing touchdowns), but has been a disaster throwing the ball, averaging an anemic 5.4 yards per attempt in his second stint with Carolina. Once among the strongest arms in football, years of injuries have clearly taken a toll on Newton, who may be nearing the end of his career as an NFL starting quarterback.
With Christian McCaffrey (ankle) lost to injured reserve and hobbled receiver D.J. Moore (hamstring) operating at much less than 100 percent, Newton admittedly hasn't had much to work with. Still, Newton’s steep decline, losing his last 13 starts for Carolina dating back to 2018, has been hard to watch, especially for those who remember the former Heisman winner during his athletic peak. Whether Newton’s reckless style of play has finally caught up to him or the game has simply passed him by, it’s clear the 32-year-old has lost his way, a fallen star plummeting toward rock bottom.
The next two games will serve as an audition of sorts for Darnold, who has largely disappointed since his arrival last offseason. This isn’t thought to be a particularly deep quarterback class, though the Panthers are in a good position to draft one (they’d hold the seventh overall pick if the season ended today) next April if Darnold fails to impress against the Saints, or the week after at Tampa Bay. Carolina could also explore the free-agent market or potentially make a blockbuster trade for Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson, both of whom are said to be looking for a change of scenery.
LISTEN NOW on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram