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Both quarterbacks are adjusting to a new group of receivers and playing behind banged-up offensive lines.
The Cowboys will be looking to replace wide receiver Dez Bryant William Nylander Jersey , the team's career leader in touchdown catches, and tight end Jason Whitten, who retired after 15 seasons.
That's no easy task.
The primary options to be slot receiver are Cole Beasley, Allen Hurns and rookie Michael Gallup. But Tavon Austin and Terrance Williams could be factors, too. Geoff Swaim and Blake Jarwin are the top two tight ends.
"I think each of the guys we have who are going to be up for this game are versatile," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. "You can put them in different spots."
Dallas also has holes to fill up front with All-Pro center Travis Frederick battling a rare auto-immune disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome and is doubtful for the game. Six-year veteran Joe Looney will get the start alongside rookie left guard Connor Williams. However Pro Bowl right guard Zack Martin is set to start after dealing with a hyperextended left knee in the second preseason game.
Newton faces similar issues in Carolina.
The Panthers upgraded their speed at wide receiver in the offseason by trading for veteran Torrey Smith, signing free agent slot receiver Jairus Wright and using a first-round draft pick on D.J. Moore. All three figure to play a role in the passing game alongside returning No. 1 receiver Devin Funchess.
"We don't know what we have yet and that is why Sunday is so important for everybody 鈥?because we finally find out," Newton said.
Carolina's offensive line was going to have a difficult time replacing All-Pro left guard Andrew Norwell 鈥?and that was before it got hit hard by the injuries.
Second-team All-Pro right tackle Daryl Williams, left tackle Matt Kalil and Norwell replacement Amini Silatolu all went down with knee injuries in the preseason. Kalil went on injured reserve , meaning Taylor Moton will make his first NFL start at left tackle. Williams and Silatolu returned to practice this week, but it's still unclear if they'll be healthy enough to play against Dallas.
RARE HOME OPENER: Coach Ron Rivera joked this week that he "has to get used to" the idea of playing a home opener. In Rivera's eight seasons in Carolina, this is only the second time the team has opened the season at home.
DAVIS SUSPENSION: The Panthers will be without weakside linebacker Thomas Davis Youth Jaden Schwartz Jersey , who's suspended four games for testing positive for PEDs.
That's a pretty big blow to the defense given Davis' skills and leadership. But Rivera is high on 2015 first-round draft pick Shaq Thompson, who has had an outstanding preseason filling in. Thompson was drafted as Davis' heir apparent, but the veteran continued playing at a high level, thus limiting Thompson's reps. So this is Thompson's chance to shine.
Rivera said Thompson has potential to be "an elite linebacker in the league."
ELLIOTT FALLING FOWARD: Ezekiel Elliott doesn't have to worry about a suspension hanging over his head to start this season. The Cowboys' third-year running back may be primed for a big season, which concerns Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly.
"He's an elite running back," Kuechly said. "He's big, he's strong and he's powerful. He will run though you, and he always falls forward (for more yards). ... So when we hit him, we have to keep him where he's at and not let him do that."
McCAFFREY'S ROLE: It's time to find out if Rivera backs up his statement about wanting to get running back Christian McCaffrey "25-30 touches per game." Rivera has said the team would like to use McCaffrey similar to how the San Diego Chargers used Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson.
That seems like a lot of touches, particularly for a player with a slender build such as McCaffrey. But it's hard to blame Carolina for wanting to get the ball into the hands of its playmaker as much as possible.
KICKING DEBUT: Brett Maher is set for his NFL regular-season debut as the replacement for Cowboys career field goal leader Dan Bailey. Dallas cut the second-most accurate kicker in league history because of Bailey's struggles after an injury last season and his relatively large salary for his position. The 28-year-old Maher has four years of CFL experience.
"In this profession, every single thing that you do is kind of pressure-packed," Maher said.
AP Sports Writer Schuyler Dixon in Dallas Mike Reilly Jersey , Texas contributed to this report. The Atlanta Hawks are using a high-tech virtual tour to give current and potential season ticket holders a glimpse of their renovated arena.With Philips Arena currently undergoing major renovations, the Hawks recently launched ”The Preview,” an interactive tour of the transformed arena in downtown Atlanta located between Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Centennial Olympic Park. The tour was opened about a month ago while the arena is currently in the final phase of its $192.5 million renovation.
Hawks CEO Steve Koonin said there is no other experience like the preview center in the NBA.
Thousands of potential suite and seat buyers have already taken the tour held in a 2,500-square-foot space, which is located on CNN Center property. The tour is promoting the revamped arena on several large 70-inch screens as a premiere entertainment venue for basketball games, concerts and events.
Ticket holders in the suites, cabanas or verandas don’t just use them for Hawks games, the tickets are good for all events at Philips Arena – with food and beverages all included. But the Hawks home games are the primary hook.
”It’s going to be a social place unlike anywhere else in the NBA,” Koonin said. ”All of our research told us that people don’t want to sit down in a chair eating a hot dog out of aluminum foil and watch a game. They want a great night out. … Think Vegas pool meets sporting event.”
”The Preview” offers a before-and-after look at the various amenities from the 360-degree concourse, rapper Killer Mike’s barber shop, Zac Brown’s BBQ restaurant, fantasy golf area Authentic Justin Bailey Jersey , club lounge and premium seating areas with couches and cabanas. The tour, which the Hawks dub as somewhat of a ”Disney ride,” also provides a look at the new state-of-the-art video board system, which is three times larger than the current one.
The Hawks will continue to operate it once the arena renovations are complete, they have three-year lease for the space.
Koonin said team officials know they have much work to do.
Despite the Hawks’ on-the-court struggles this past season, the franchise hopes to claim some victory off it. The team went 24-58 and missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons.
Koonin said they are taking a new business approach to enhance the fan experience beyond any game or event. The courtside club featuring the Hawks Bar in the premium seating area several rows behind the basketball goal was a part of the arena’s phase one transformation.
”I love that they’re not letting it sit around,” said Atlanta-based attorney Randy Kessler, who has been a Hawks season-ticket holder since the arena opened in 1999. He hasn’t been on ”The Preview” tour, but he’s seen images of the new arena.
”I love that they are not just thinking of on-the-court experience, but off it,” Kessler added. ”You should feel special once you walk in, and I did. I thought last year’s improvements were good. Even though the team was terrible Riley Nash Jersey , the experience was still great. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next.”
Koonin said the Hawks realize with their recent on-court performance they have to continue to work in order to win over fans.
He said the team spent millions of dollars to build the preview center and partnered with a Seattle-based design firm Hornall Anderson to create the virtual tour.
Philips Area is expected to reopen in October, but Koonin said the team will keep the tour going on for the next couple years. The arena might be one of the smallest-capacity NBA venues with 17,600 seats.
Sales centers are not unique to the NBA and several teams with new arenas have given fans an insight to what they can expect in the new facilities, including Sacramento, Milwaukee and Golden State.
Koonin said Hawks officials visited other arena preview centers including Sacramento and the NFL stadium in Minnesota. He said there is no other experience like ”The Preview” in the NBA, but the Hawks are still missing one thing – championships.
Golden State ”has one thing that’s very powerful that I wish we had: A bunch of recent Larry O’Brien trophies and rings,” he said. ”We have to work a little harder.”
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The Wall