The Carolina Panthers are bound to have an interesting season, especially if star quarterback Cam Newton isn’t completely healthy.

If Newton isn’t ready to go for the first week of the season, Carolina will have to either turn to Kyle Allen or rookie Will Grier. It would not be the best way to start off the year.

However, there are some positives heading into the new season: Christian McCaffrey is looking to capitalize on a fantastic 2018 campaign, while the team added Chris Hogan to their wide receiving core. The team also has a solid defense to really hold things together if the offense isn’t running like a well-oiled machine right away.

The Panthers signed Gerald McCoy, Bruce Irvin and Ross Cockrell in the offseason to add to the defense. The team will also have a full season of Eric Reid in the secondary. Things don’t necessarily have to go awry should someone like Newton be out for the first couple of games.

The Panthers start their season on Sept. 8 against the Los Angeles Rams.

Read below for more about the Panthers heading into the 2019 season.

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2019 SCHEDULE

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera looks on during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)

Week	Date	Time (ET)	Channel	Opponent
1	Sept. 8	1:00 pm	FOX	Los Angeles Rams
2	Sept. 12	8:20 pm	NFL	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3	Sept. 22	4:05 pm	FOX	@ Arizona Cardinals
4	Sept. 29	1:00 pm	FOX	@ Houston Texans
5	Oct. 6	1:00 pm	CBS	Jacksonville Jaguars
6	Oct. 13	9:30 am	NFL	Tampa Bay Buccaneers (UK)
7				Bye
8	Oct. 27	4:05 pm	FOX	@ San Francisco 49ers
9	Nov. 3	1:00 pm	CBS	Tennessee Titans
10	Nov. 10	1:00 pm	FOX	@ Green Bay Packers
11	Nov. 17	1:00 pm	FOX	Atlanta Falcons
12	Nov. 24	1:00 pm	FOX	@ New Orleans Saints
13	Dec. 1	1:00 pm	CBS	Washington Redskins
14	Dec. 8	1:00 pm	FOX	@ Atlanta Falcons
15	Dec. 15	1:00 pm	FOX	Seattle Seahawks
16	Dec. 22	1:00 pm	FOX	@ Indianapolis Colts
17	Dec. 29	1:00 pm	FOX	New Orleans Saints

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton jokes with a player during an NFL football training camp with the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 13, 2019, in Spartanburg, S.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

QB: Cam Newton
QB: Kyle Allen
RB: Christian McCaffrey
DE: Gerald McCoy
LB: Luke Kuechkly
S: Eric Reid

PANTHERS DRAFT PICKS

Carolina Panthers quarterback Will Grier (3) drops back to pass against the New England Patriots in the second half of an NFL preseason football game on Aug. 22, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Round 1, Pick 16: Brian Burns, LB/DE
Round 2, Pick 37: Greg Little, T
Round 3, Pick 100: Will Grier, QB
Round 4, Pick 115: Christian Miller, LB/DE
Round 5, Pick 154: Jordan Scarlett, RB
Round 6, Pick 212: Dennis Daley, T
Round 7, Pick 237: Terry Godwin, WR

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