Panthers won’t bring Cam Newton back until they ‘make sure he’s ready’

Since reaggravating his foot injury in Week 2, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has been sidelined.

The Panthers are set to roll forward without Newton for at least one more week as head coach Ron Rivera stated on Monday that the team will start Kyle Allen in Week 9 action against the Tennessee Titans, according to David Newton of ESPN.

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“We’ve got to make sure he’s ready,” Rivera said of Newton, who hasn’t played since aggravating a left foot Lisfranc injury in a Week 2 loss to Tampa Bay. “The last update I got, more so than anything else is he’s going through his rehab.

“We’ll see. Right now, we’re going into this game with Kyle as the starter.”

Allen has provided a steady presence under center in Newton’s absence. The team secured four straight wins before falling to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon. The loss also marked the first time that Allen has thrown an interception in his brief NFL career. As a result, questions abound as to when when the Pro Bowler will be back in the mix.

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The Panthers have remained vague on the timetable for Newton’s return. He is still dealing with a nagging foot injury that occurred during the preseason. Carolina doesn’t appear to be in a rush to get him back on the field due to the stable play that Allen has provided.

For the time being, the Panthers will continue to roll with the 23-year-old under center to lead them forward towards playoff contention.