Redskins vs. Panthers, Week 7: 10 Players to Watch on Sunday

When the Washington Redskins visit the Carolina Panthers Sunday, several players from each team will be starting for the first time.

John Beck will get his first start at quarterback for the Redskins, and the injury-riddled offensive line will have a few replacements in it. The Panthers will have some lineup changes of their own on defense.

We will all be watching Cam Newton as he tries to lead Carolina to a quality win at home. But here are 10 other names to keep an eye on during this East Coast showdown.

Jonathan Stewart

Jonathan Stewart has been getting a fair share of carries this season, and strong performances from him and DeAngelo Williams could mean great things for Newton and the rest of the Carolina offense.

Last week, Stewart had a solid game, averaging 6.9 yards per carry and finding his way to the end zone.

As the Panthers' best third-down back, Ron Rivera will be leaning on Stewart to move the chains and keep the Carolina offense rolling.

Eric Cook

With Redskins lineman Korey Lichtensteiger out with a knee injury, Will Montgomery will take over at left guard and Eric Cook will start at center.

Cook, the second-year pro out of New Mexico, will be making his first NFL start. When he came in off the bench last week, he had a couple of botched snaps.

Watch how Cook handles his assignments and plays with the first string this week.

Steve Smith

Much of Steve Smith's fate rests heavily on the shoulders of Cam Newton, but the speedy wideout needs to bounce back after a mediocre game against Atlanta.

He was held to just five catches for 66 on the day, and he had more fumbles than touchdowns. Smith has long been Carolina's best receiver, but they need him to be an elite pass-catcher now more than ever.

Keep an eye on Smith's matchup against DeAngelo Hall Sunday, as they have built a fierce rivalry over the past seven years.

Sean Locklear

With Trent Williams hampered by a bad ankle sprain, it is likely that Sean Locklear will be starting at left tackle for the Panthers.

Locklear, an eight-year veteran, has played most of his career on the right side of the line. But according to Redskins.com, he has been practicing at left tackle this week.

It will be interesting to see how Locklear does against Carolina's best pass-rusher Charles Johnson.

Charles Johnson

What about that Charles Johnson guy?

The Panthers' leading defensive lineman is looking to build on his impressive 2010 when he had a career-best 11.5 sacks. With Washington's new quarterback and reshuffled offensive line, Johnson hopes he can have a breakout game.

Johnson leads the team in lost yards on tackles/sacks. Keep an eye on his matchup with Sean Locklear and the rest of Washington's offensive unit.

John Beck

John Beck had to take a backseat the first few weekends after losing the preseason quarterback competition, but he gets his chance to shine this week.

Beck will be looking to improve Washington's offensive efficiency, as Rex Grossman had been inconsistent so far this season with six touchdowns and nine interceptions.

If Beck can spread the ball around to all his receivers and be supported by a decent running game, the Redskins will have a chance to grab the road win. Unfortunately, Chris Cooley is injured and the running game hasn't been stellar so far this season.

We'll see if Beck can step up and improve the Redskins' offensive output.

Jason Phillips

Jason Phillips will get a chance to prove himself at linebacker for the Panthers.

The third-year pro from Texas-Christian will be making his first career start Sunday against the Redskins, and Ron Rivera hopes Phillips will provide physicality as weak side linebacker.

Carolina has given up 30 points or more in four of its five losses, and they hope Phillips can be part of the solution to shore up the defense.

DeAngelo Hall

The Redskins will count on DeAngelo Hall to slow down Carolina wideout Steve Smith Sunday.

Hall is the top defensive back for Washington and leads all Redskin corner backs and safeties in tackles with 28 total. 

Hall has had a great deal of success against Smith in recent meetings, holding the speedy receiver to modest numbers and without long scoring plays.

Both players are familiar with one another, and both are prime-time playmakers. Keep an eye on this matchup all game long.

Chris Gamble

I'm calling out Chris Gamble here.

The eight-year veteran cornerback out of Ohio State has had some great years with the Panthers, but last year and this year haven't been as productive. He needs to step up his game in order for Carolina to turn around their season.

In his prime, Gamble would have 70 or more tackles per season with five or six interceptions. He has just 11 tackles and no picks so far this season.

See if Gamble can have a breakout game against a shaky Redskin offense and jump-start the rest of his season.

London Fletcher

London Fletcher is a must-watch type of player.

He's the type of linebacker who's all over the field and in on almost every tackle. Although Fletcher is by far the oldest player on Washington's defense, he is second on the team in tackles with 34.

It will be interesting to see how he plays against a dual-threat quarterback like Cam Newton. The fate of the Redskins defense lies with his ability to slow down the Carolina playmakers and keep Newton guessing.