Panthers at 49ers

TV: Sunday, 4:25, Fox (Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman, Peter Schrager)

The matchup: QB Cam Newton’s partially torn right rotator cuff was repaired in March, but coach Ron Rivera and team officials spent their first two picks on college playmakers in RB Christian McCaffrey and WR Curtis Samuel. ... The 49ers are coming off a 2-14 year but appear to be trending upward under rookie coach Kyle Shanahan and first-year GM John Lynch. Two primary concerns: Can the back end on defense hold up vs. the pass and will journeyman QB Brian Hoyer generate enough points?