The decision is in for Carolina Panthers on Cam Newton for Sunday

Cam Newton will get the start this weekend at quarterback when the Carolina Panthers host the Washington Football Team.

Head coach Matt Rhule made the announcement on Friday afternoon, per Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. Newton is taking the field in place of an injured Sam Darnold and beat P.J. Walker out for the start. 

Walker made the start, but Newton provided a spark for the Panthers against the Arizona Cardinals last weekend. Carolina topped one of the nation’s better teams, who was playing without quarterback Kyler Murray, 34-10. Newton finished 3-of-4 with eight yards and a touchdown pass plus three carries for 14 yards and a rushing score. He scored on his first play back.

Washington-Carolina kicks off at noon ET on Fox.

Darnold’s future with Newton in Charlotte

The situation with Darnold is reportedly bleaker than the Panthers are letting on. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Carolina is operating as if Darnold is out for the rest of the season.

“The Carolina Panthers announced that Sam Darnold is out four to six weeks with a shoulder injury, but the team is operating as if the quarterback will not play again this season, league sources tell ESPN,” Schefter wrote earlier this week. “One source told ESPN this past week that the Panthers “know Sam is out for the season,” which contributed to Carolina signing quarterback Cam Newton to a one-year contract that essentially guarantees him $6 million.”

When the Panthers traded three picks for Darnold, they hoped he’d be a reclamation project for the ages. While things looked great after three weeks, the former USC quarterback reverted to some ugly tendencies after that.

With Darnold’s future murky, Schefter went on to say that this might not just be a one-year fling with Newton. In a wild turn of events, the former face of the franchise has a chance to be the guy once again.

“Newton will have a chance to cement his status as Carolina’s starter for the remainder of this year and potentially the 2022 season as well, sources tell ESPN,” Schefter wrote. “If Newton plays well this season, he would become the favorite to be Carolina’s starting quarterback in 2022.”

Newton spent the first nine years of his NFL career in Charlotte after the Panthers used their No. 1 overall selection on the Auburn signal caller in 2011. He led the Panthers to three division titles, four playoff appearances and a Super Bowl appearance, and he was named NFL MVP in 2015.

In total, Newton started 124 of the 125 games in which he played for the Panthers and threw for 31,698 yards, 190 touchdowns and 118 interceptions. A true dual-threat quarterback, he also had 4,806 rushing yards and 58 scores on the ground.

On3’s Stephen Samra contributed to this report.