CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Panthers quarterback Cam Newton said hes feeling great and "absolutely" expects to start in Carolinas home opener Sunday against the Detroit Lions. "Its great to be out there grinding with the entire team and not have any restraints," Newton said. Newton fully participated in practice and threw the ball with good velocity -- although coach Ron Rivera said the fourth-year quarterbacks timing on his passes is still a bit of a concern. Wearing a thick, protective flak jacket, Newton took the majority of reps with the first team offence as expected and didnt seem to have any problems throwing, Rivera said.. Rivera said Monday he expected Newton to start against the Lions on Sunday after missing the season opener at Tampa Bay with a rib injury -- and he didnt waffle on that decision Wednesday. "We dont expect him to have any setbacks," Rivera said. Rivera said hes more confident that Newton would be able to handle a hit to the ribs this week. Derek Anderson filled in for Newton and threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers defeated the Buccaneers 20-14 in Week 1. Anderson returned to working with the second team unit on Wednesday. It was the first missed start for Newton since coming into the league as the No. 1 overall pick in 2011. During a press conference Wednesday Newton refused to discuss anything related to last weeks game, including the teams decision to hold him out or when he inexplicably ran on to the field during a timeout in street clothes to talk to his teammates in the huddle. "My focus is on the Lions," Newton said. "We cant dwell on the past. It was a great to get a team win but Im moving forward." Peter Forsberg Jersey . The 30-year-old Texas native was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 20th round of the 2001 amateur draft. Duke spent six years in Pittsburgh and also had stints with Arizona, Washington and Cincinnati. Mikko Rantanen Jersey . Hazard lasted just 18 minutes in Tuesdays contest before being substituted with the calf problem, and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes he will be without his star winger for at least the next two weeks. http://www.authenticavalanchepro.com/Mat...alanche-jersey/. - In about six minutes, the Memphis Grizzlies had allowed their 23-point lead to be cut to seven. Sven Andrighetto Jersey . -- Down to 10 men and behind on the scoreboard, Toronto FC displayed its perseverance. Adam Foote Jersey . -- Jim Furyk was 10 shots worse and right where he wanted to be Saturday in the BMW Championship.KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia -- Sit-skier Josh Dueck finally has the Paralympic gold medal hes been craving after winning the mens super combined Friday with a memorable come-from-behind victory. The 33-year-old from Kimberley, B.C., entered the days super-G run in fifth place after Tuesdays slalom portion of the race, but laid down the fastest time to win by 0.89 seconds. "Im stunned, speechless, to the moon," said Dueck, who finished with a combined time of two minutes 18.20 seconds for the first gold medal of his Paralympic career. "This is definitely the one achievement that was missing on my bookshelf." "I dont like to focus on the outcome of whats going on, but I wanted this and it feels freaking great," he added. Duecks performance gave Canada its third gold medal at the Games following back-to-back victories by visually impaired cross-country skier Brian McKeever. Dueck also won a silver on the first day of competition at Rosa Khutor to go with a second-place finish in the slalom at the Vancouver Paralympics four years ago. Another warm day in the mountains favoured Dueck as he bolted to the top of the leaderboard. "I knew had a shot but theres some really good skiers that were in front of me and they had a little bit of time in the bank," he said. "This hill favours a guy like me. I dont necessarily create the most energy from my ski and the guys in front of me do and the conditions were soft. It was about being smooth and being smart. "The other fellas, they pushed it, which is awesome, but maybe more than the hill would allow for and because of that today is my day ... today is our day." Because of bad weather this week, there was a three-day break between the slalom and super-G runs, but it clearly didnt faze the Canadian. "Ive had a lot of experiences," said Dueck, who was left a paraplegic after breaking his back on a jump in 2004. "It seems like the more challenging the scenario, the more into it I get." Heath Calhoun of thhe United States took silver with a time of 2:19.dddddddddddd9, while Austrias Roman Rabl clocked in at 2:20.20 to win bronze. Canada is fifth in the overall medal tally with 11 -- three gold, two silvers and six bronze. Russia continues to dominate, leading the standings with 64 medals, including 25 gold. Ukraine is second with 20 medals. "I couldnt be more proud of the team of people Im working with," said Dueck. "This belongs to the whole team. This is a collective. Their energy was flowing through me, all the work that theyve done to make me ready for this moment." Dueck said he doesnt think the magnitude of his victory will hit home until he sees his wife and baby daughter when he returns to Canada. "When I see her and when I hold my ladies, thats when its really going to sink in for me because this is our journey," he said. "Im going to enjoy this today. Im going to celebrate for everybody here thats been a part of it. I truly think that its going to sink in (on) a whole new level when I get home and hold my girls. Its theirs as much as it is mine." Asked whether he would still compete in Saturdays giant slalom race -- not one of his premier events -- Dueck said he would assess his energy level and the course in the morning. "Im going to get a good nights sleep," he said. "This is for my country. This is for my team. If it was all about me it would definitely be a late night tonight. Its not about me. Its about the work that everybody puts into this." In other Canadian results Friday, Mark Arendz of Hartsville, P.E.I., battled through a head cold to finish 11th in the mens 15-kilometre biathlon event while Ottawas Caroline Bisson was 12th in the competed in the womens 12.5-kilometre standing race. In snowboarding, which made its Paralympic debut, John Leslie of Arnprior, Ont., was seventh while Tyler Mosher of Whistler, B.C., was 12th and Ian Lockey of Rossland, B.C., was 21st. Calgarys Michelle Salt was ninth in the womens race. Cheap Buffalo Sabres GearWholesale Calgary Flames JerseysCheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche JerseysMontreal Canadiens Outlet StoreWholesale New Jersey Devils JerseysAdidas Arizona Coyotes JerseysCheap Adidas Boston Bruins JerseysCheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes JerseysChicago Blackhawks Shop Free ShippingWholesale Columbus Blue Jackets JerseysDallas Stars Shop Free ShippingCheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings JerseysAnaheim Ducks Jerseys ChinaWholesale Edmonton Oilers JerseysFlorida Panthers Shop Free ShippingWholesale Los Angeles Kings JerseysMinnesota Wild Outlet StoreCheap Adidas Nashville Predators JerseysCheap Adidas New York Islanders JerseysNew York Rangers Winter Classic JerseysCheap Adidas Ottawa Senators JerseysCheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers JerseysWholesale Pittsburgh Penguins JerseysCheap Adidas San Jose Sharks JerseysSt. Louis Blues Winter Classic JerseysWholesale Tampa Bay Lightning JerseysToronto Maple Leafs Outlet StoreVancouver Canucks Outlet StoreCheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights JerseysCheap Adidas Washington Capitals JerseysCheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '