Carolina Panthers QB Sam Darnold gets starting nod over Cam Newton vs. New Orleans Saints

3:02 PM

The coach of the Carolina Panthers said on Wednesday that Sam Darnold will start at quarterback on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

He will be the new starter after being 0-5 as the starter after replacing Sam Darnold, who went on injured reserve with a shoulder injury following a Week 9 loss to New England.

Rhule said that Sam has been working hard to get back. He did some good things last week. We're going to give him the chance to show what he can do.

In Sunday's 32-6 loss to Tampa Bay, Darnold split time withNewton. He completed 15 of 32 pass attempts.

Rhule wants to see if the player acquired in a trade with the New York Jets can return to the form he was during a three-game winning streak.

Rhule wants to see him play like he did in the first game, throwing the ball on time and being aggressive with his throws. I would like to see him play with aggression and aggressiveness.

In Carolina's wins against the Jets, New Orleans and Houston, he had three passing touchdown and two rushing. He had his best game against the Saints in Week 2, completing 26 of 38 passes for 304 yards and two touchdown in a 26-7 victory.

After throwing 10 picks in his first six starts, he lost five of them and was placed on injured reserve after a three-interception performance against New England.

After being released by the Pats at the end of training camp,Newton was replaced by the Carolinas. The team that made him the top pick of the 2011 draft, the Arizona team, saw a return to form from their top pick, as he scored two touchdown in his first two games back.

The next five games were losses to Washington, Miami, Atlanta, Buffalo, and the final one to the final one to the final one to the final one to the final one to the final one to the final one to the final one to the final one to the final one to the final He had five turnovers and only one touchdown in the past four games.

There are no guarantees that he'll be re-signed because of his age and decline in play.

Rhule wouldn't commit toNewton playing in New Orleans.

He said, "Cam's the ultimate professional." I can't say enough about him. He had a lot of energy on the practice field.

Since Rhule named him the starter, he andNewton have talked.

He said that they understand the business that they're in. It is what it is. Both of us are very professional.

It's another chance to play good football for me. I'm focused on doing my job at the highest level. Nothing more.

During the 1-5 stretch before he went on injured reserve, he said his confidence never wavered.

He said that he looked at all the games he played. I looked at both the good and the ugly. I learned a lot from that tape.

The last two games might affect Carolina's quarterback situation in the future, but not this game.

He said that he would be doing his team and himself a disservice if he looked past this game.

The trade that sent New York a sixth-round pick in 2021, a second- and fourth-round pick in 2022, and a fifth-year option for Sam Darnold to the Carolinas has made the team commit to him.

The third-string quarterback was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday, leaving Carolina with only two quarterbacks for Sunday.

The team has 11 players on the list, after adding edge rushers Reddick and Walker. The list was as high as 14 players on Tuesday, but center Pat Elfein and guard Dennis Daley were released on Wednesday.