Matt Nagy made it clear last season that his starters won’t get much run in the preseason. His first opponent this year is taking a similar approach.
The Carolina Panthers don’t plan on using their top players Thursday against the Bears. Head coach Ron Rivera told reporters this week that Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly are among the starters who won’t suit up at Soldier Field.
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Newton is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, and the team is being cautious with their franchise quarterback during the exhibition schedule.
"It's just to be careful," Rivera said. “Everything we are doing with Cam has been mapped out and everything is fine.”
Kuechly is also on the mend, sitting out many recent training camp practices with an injury the Panthers have been quiet about.
He returned to practice earlier this week, but Rivera doesn’t want to push it in a preseason game.
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The Bears’ defense will face backup quarterback Kyle Allen, who started in the Panthers’ Week 17 victory over the New Orleans Saints last season. Second-year linebacker Jermaine Carter is expected to take the place of Kuechly in the starting lineup.