Report: Panthers' Kyle Allen 'Trending Toward' Starting for Injured Cam Newton

Carolina Panthers backup quarterback Kyle Allen is "trending toward" replacing injured starter Cam Newton against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network:

Newton, who did not practice Wednesday, suffered an aggravation of a left mid-foot sprain Thursday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, per Rapoport. The initial injury occurred on Aug. 22 in a preseason game against the New England Patriots.  

The 2015 NFL MVP and nine-year veteran is still in a walking boot, per Rapoport, and there isn't a timetable for his return. However, he has not been ruled out for Week 3 yet.

A source also told Rapoport that Newton's chances of playing "did not look good" if he missed Wednesday's practice.

Allen fared well in limited spot duty last year, completing 20 of 31 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns over two games. He also rushed for 19 yards and one score.

The 6'3", 210-pound signal-caller started against the New Orleans Saints in Week 17 and led the Panthers to a 33-14 win.

Granted, New Orleans rested some starters for all or part of the game after wrapping up the NFC's No. 1 seed the previous week, but a few of the Saints' top defensive players saw action, including cornerback Marshon Lattimore (50 percent of snaps) and defensive end Cameron Jordan (44 percent), per Pro Football Reference.

Furthermore, Carolina was largely without the services of star running back Christian McCaffrey, who only amassed five touches before resting for the remainder of a game that carried no playoff implications for the 7-9 Panthers.

The 23-year-old Allen will need to excel again in a more meaningful contest for the Panthers, whose season is close to the brink after starting 0-2 and finding themselves in the NFC South cellar.

Per the Associated Press (h/t Fox Sports), only six NFL teams since 1980 have made the postseason after starting 0-3. The 2018 Houston Texans were the last to do so, winning the AFC South at 11-5.

It helps Carolina that Allen established a solid rapport with a few of his pass-catchers during a regular-season NFL game, as Panthers wideouts DJ Moore and Curtis Samuel combined for 153 yards and a touchdown versus the Saints.

Kickoff between the Panthers and the 0-1-1 Cardinals is at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday.