The Panthers haven’t played quarterback Cam Newton, running back Christian McCaffrey or middle linebacker Luke Kuechly in the first two preseason games. The plan as of Monday is to play them and the rest of the starters in Thursday’s game at New England, a team coach Ron Rivera calls the “gold standard’’ in the NFL. “They’ve been the gold standard for a long time,’’ Rivera said. “You want to go out and see just how good you are. It is a good measuring stick as to who we can be as a football team.’’
