Report: Newton expected back at practice after bye week

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera will be making a quarterback decision sooner rather than later.

Panthers signal-caller Cam Newton is expected to return to practice after the team's Week 7 bye, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

A foot injury has sidelined Newton for the past four games, an issue he apparently played through for the first two weeks of the season. The 30-year-old's absence opened the door for second-year pro Kyle Allen.

With Newton out, the Panthers have leaned heavily on running back and MVP candidate Christian McCaffrey, who leads the league in yards from scrimmage (923), and a fearsome pass rush that ranks first in sacks (27). But the undrafted Allen has also been solid.

The Arizona native is far exceeding expectations, and Allen is undefeated in four starts after replacing Newton. The Houston product has thrown for 901 yards and seven touchdowns while tossing zero picks and sporting an impressive 106.6 passer rating.

His play is even leading to reports that the 23-year-old could remain the starter even when Newton returns to full health.

Newton recorded three turnovers and a subpar 71.0 passer rating while playing injured earlier this season. The Panthers will ponder their quarterback conundrum during the team's bye week before a tilt against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers.