Panthers' Cam Newton: Carries to be monitored

Newton's amount of carries will be monitored going forward, as offensive coordinator Mike Shula feels more comfortable with him running seven or eight times per game, ESPN's David Newton reports.

Analysis:

Newton was credited with 11 rushes during last week's season-opening defeat to the Broncos, when he also took a number of wicked hits from his plays as a passer. Although Newton has proven pretty durable despite his frequent runs in the past, Shula rightfully wants to manage the amount of times he's asked to carry the ball. While Newton's fantasy owners will find this a reasonable precaution to ensure he's healthy for the long haul, they'll still at least hope his number continues to be called near the goal line going forward.