Carolina Panthers to start Cam Newton this week but Sam Darnold also to play, Matt Rhule says

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule said Sam Darnold “will play” in Sunday’s home finale against the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Cam Newton will remain the starting quarterback this week.

Darnold on Wednesday was cleared by doctors for contact after missing the past five games with a shoulder injury. Rhule said Newton will have a “major role” in the game plan, but he wants to get a look at Darnold to see if he can get back to the level he was during a 3-0 start.

“Sam was 4-5 as a starter,” Rhule said. “He had some excellent moments early. He hit kind of a rut there. He’s had some time off, so when he has an opportunity to play I’d certainly like to see him show what he can do.

“We brought him here to be a starter. We want to see if he can play at that level again.”

Rhule wouldn’t expand on what Darnold’s role will be or how much he will play. He added that Darnold being the only quarterback under contract for next season was not a factor in deciding to bring him back with three games left in the season and playoff hopes on life support.

The Panthers are 5-9 with four straight losses with Newton as the starter. They have less than a 1% chance of making the NFC playoffs as a wild-card team.

Newton, 32, is not under contract for next season after rejoining the team last month when Darnold, 24, went on injured reserve. If not re-signed, this would be his last chance to play at Bank of America Stadium for the team that made him the top pick of the 2011 draft.

“My job and our job here is to do what is right for the team, do what’s best to win this Sunday,” Rhule said. “We owe that to the guys in the locker room. We’ll do what’s best in terms of the Carolina Panthers.

“No decisions that we make are easy or no brainers. You have to do what’s right. It’s not always popular. But the way you win long-term is to always do what’s right for the Panthers.”

Rhule added he and Newton are “completely good” after discussing the…