Cam Newton's sprained foot is almost mended, and the Panthers' quarterback is expected to resume practicing after the team's Week 7 bye, according to ESPN.
But does he still have a starting job? Or has unheralded second-year backup quarterback Kyle Allen played so well in Newton's absence that the Panthers are willing to make a seismic change at quarterback?
Allen excelled again Sunday, throwing for 227 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers' 37-26 win over the Buccaneers in London. It's Carolina's fourth straight victory with Allen as the starter.
He became the seventh quarterback in the past 25 years to win his first five career starts, including Week 16 last season.
NFL Media reported Sunday that Allen would likely remain the starter as long as the team keeps winning. But it's not the type of decision that coach Ron Rivera will take lightly. Newton has been the face of the franchise since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2011, but he's been hampered by injuries the past couple of seasons and has had issues with his accuracy downfield. He underwent his second shoulder surgery in less than two years in January.
So does Rivera go with the former NFL MVP, Newton, or the young Allen, who has put up good numbers and has the Panthers on a winning streak?
“I’m not going to worry about it,” Rivera said after Sunday's game. “I’m not going to speculate on anything until I have to address that. So until then, we’re going to stay in the now, stay in the focus of what we’re doing right now. As far as I’m concerned, we’re not going to deal with the question until it is time. And when the time comes, I will address it.
"As far as I’m concerned, [Cam’s] in the rehab program and he’s doing the program and our quarterback right now playing for us is Kyle. So we’re not going to address it.”
The 23-year-old Allen has completed 65.6% of his passes for 902 yards, with seven touchdowns and no interceptions.