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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Panthers quarterback Cam Newton officially has been cleared from the concussion protocol by an independent physician, the team announced Saturday.?Newton will start Sunday at New Orleans, as had been expected barring any setbacks. The reigning MVP was a full participant in practice both Thursday and Friday.Despite being listed as questionable with a knee injury, Panthers wideout Kelvin Benjamin is expected to play, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.?Running back Jonathan Stewart?also will start after missing the past three games because of a hamstring injury.Those who wont play are starting left tackle Michael Oher (concussion), cornerback James Bradberry?(toe), cornerback Robert McClain (hamstring), defensive tackle Vernon Butler?(ankle) and defensive tackle Paul Soliai?(foot).Newton missed his third career start on Monday night, when the Panthers suffered a 17-14 loss to?Tampa Bay?that dropped their record to 1-4.He threw five touchdown passes, including a game-winning 15-yarder to Jerricho Cotchery with 1:05 remaining, in last years 41-38 victory at New Orleans.Over his past three games against the Saints (1-3), Newton has completed 65.7 percent of his pass attempts for 872 yards and 10 touchdowns with only one interception.Newton has declined all media requests this week.Offensive coordinator Mike Shula said there will be no restrictions on Newton as a dual-threat quarterback.Thats his game, Shula said Thursday. We will look at him and talk about it, but part of his game and what makes him so good is that.Newton has rushed for more yards (3,354) than any quarterback in the NFL since he entered the league in 2011. He already has 45 rushing touchdowns, an NFL career record for a quarterback.Newton, built like a linebacker at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, takes a lot of punishment. He has been hit while running, throwing or sacked 11.3 times per game this season, by far the highest rate in the NFL.Thats one thing about Cam Newton, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. We can call a play, and he can drop back and take off running on his own. Were going to play our offense accordingly.Kevin Durant Jersey . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Thunder Jersey . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. https://www.thunderrookiesshop.com/Chris-Paul-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Andre Roberson Jersey . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. Andre Roberson Thunder Jersey . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate.HOUSTON -- The Toronto Blue Jays havent scored many runs in the first three games of their four-game series against Houston. So far, strong pitching and timely home runs have been enough.Josh Donaldson hit two home runs, Marco Estrada threw seven solid innings and Toronto beat the Houston Astros 3-1 on Wednesday night.The Blue Jays have scored six runs in the three games -- all on solo homers.Were not scoring a lot of runs, Toronto manager John Gibbons said. Its been pretty impressive pitching on both sides these three games. But our pitching has been so good too when we do get a couple runs weve been able to put it away because weve had a tough, tough time down here.Jose Bautista hit his second home run in two nights in the sixth as he and Donaldson went back-to-back.Any home run from anyone is huge, Estrada said. It was a pitchers duel, and luckily, we pulled off a couple homers to give me a cushion there. Any home run thats hit is always huge.Donaldson led off the fourth with a home run to right field before hitting his 27th home run of the season in the sixth. It was Donaldsons third multi-homer game this season.I was able to barrel out a couple balls that I felt were mistakes, Donaldson said.Estrada (7-4) won his second straight start, allowing one run and four hits with seven strikeouts.I just want to follow (Russell Martin) as much as possible, Estrada said. They have a really good lineup over there, bunch of young stars over there. They put together some good at bats. Im glad my changeup was working pretty well and even some decent cutters.Estrada has allowed four runs or fewer in each of his past 12 starts.I cant say I havent seen it before, Gibbons said about Estrada. Thats what he does. Thats the way hes been since he came over here. Thats a typical outing if you want to know the truth. Hes really, really good.Joe Biagini escaped a one-out jam in the eighth, inducing a flyout from Jose Altuve and striking out Carlos Correa to strand runners on second aand third.dddddddddddd Roberto Osuna pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.Altuve was aggressive knowing he was going to get a strike, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. You know Correas at-bat, their guy did a pretty good job of getting ahead of him and it was a bad time for a miss. Human element of the game sometimes you know hurts you and in that regard it was a borderline pitch that didnt go our way.Marwin Gonzalez, who had missed the past four games with a right hand injury, had a double in the sixth. Altuve followed with an RBI double to cut the lead to 3-1.Houston has lost five of its past six games.Collin McHugh (7-8) allowed three runs and six hits with 10 strikeouts in six innings. The right-hander, who allowed a season-high three home runs, was coming off his worst outing of the season Friday when he allowed eight runs in 1 2/3 innings of a 14-6 loss to Detroit.Home runs are kind of accidents, McHugh said. They could have easily been doubles or singles if its an inch higher or an inch lower. They found barrel on fastballs and it got out of the park.TRAINING ROOMBlue Jays: SS Troy Tulowitzki (thumb) was out of the lineup for the third straight game Wednesday. Tulowitzki hit off a tee and was expected to take batting practice, Gibbons said.Astros: RHP Lance McCullers was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a mild sprain of the right elbow. RHP Brad Peacock was recalled from Triple-A Fresno to take McCullers roster spot.UP NEXTBlue Jays: LHP J.A. Happ (14-3) will be going for his ninth straight win Thursday. The left-hander has not lost since June 6 and has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his past five starts.Astros: RHP Mike Fiers (7-4) will take the mound in the finale of the four-game series. Fiers is coming off a solid outing Saturday against Detroit where he took a no-decision after allowing one run in 6 1/3 innings. ' ' '