Rivera to name starter by next week

Head coach Ron Rivera announced yesterday following practice that he is going to name the team’s starting quarterback for the regular season by next week, prior to the team’s third preseason game.

As of now I would expect Jimmy Clausen to still start against the Miami Dolphins on Friday night but expect Newton to play some with the starting offense. I expect that after two preseason games and practice, Rivera will have seen enough to help make his decision as to who will start the season opener.

By Rivera stating this, it makes this Dolphins game a huge deal. I would say Clausen still has the edge right now in terms of becoming the starting quarterback but it is very tight and if Newton plays well and Clausen struggles it would not surprise me one bit if Newton is named the starter.

— Another note, it seems like middle linebacker Jon Beason will most likely still be out for Friday’s game against the Dolphins. The middle linebacker is still struggling with an Achilles injury that has kept him out of most of camp and the teams first preseason game. The injury does not seem to be to serious but it is better to take precaution.

"“We’re just trying to rest it. You push it to the point where it said, ‘Hey, I can’t go anymore.’ The pain becomes a factor,” Beason said Monday at Wofford."