The NFL and NFL Players Association have asked the administrator of their independent drug-testing program to look into allegations by Eric Reid.

Reid believes he's been targeted due to his political actions for an abnormal number of drug tests. Reid has been tested seven times since signing in late September.

While the NFL and NFLPA stand by their position the tests are random and they have no influence on who gets tested, they have asked that John Lombardo look into the matter with the number of tests raising eyebrows.

"I guess there was something about some mathematician saying it's highly improbable, but definitely possible," Carolina coach Ron Rivera said last week. "But I'll say this: If my name came up that many times, I'd buy a lottery ticket."

The Carolina Panthers have decided to sit Cam Newton with two games to go.

Newton has been dealing with shoulder issues and wide receiver Jarius Wright admitted that defenses knew the quarterback couldn't physically throw the ball far down field.

"It keeps guys on their toes now," Wright said. "It's funny because some of the (opposing defensive backs) actually tell us on the field, 'We're not scared of y'all going deep. Cam won't.' They've actually mentioned that multiple times."

"Just having [Taylor Heinicke] out there keeps everybody on their toes."

Heinicke has attempted five NFL passes, two of which were Hail Mary attempts he came on for this season because Newton couldn't.

The Carolina Panthers will sit Cam Newton for the final two games of the season as he deals with a sore throwing shoulder.

Marty Hurney confirmed Wednesday that Newton will be inactive for Sunday's game against the Falcons. 

Newton has been battling soreness in his right shoulder since throwing 22 passes in the fourth quarter of a comeback victory against Philadelphia on Oct. 21.

Newton said nothing he has tried, from acupuncture to massage, has worked.

"You can't rub magic dust on it, go to this or that person, have the placebo things done where you think certain things are what they are -- and you come out and you're still the same,'' Newton said at the time. "Over the past couple of weeks, nothing has really changed.''

The NFL has released its 2019 Pro Bowl rosters, headlined by Patrick Mahomes.

AFC Pro Bowl Roster By Position

OFFENSE

Wide receiver: DeAndre Hopkins*, Houston Texans; Tyreek Hill*, Kansas City Chiefs; Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers; Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers

Tackle: Taylor Lewan*, Tennessee Titans; Alejandro Villanueva*, Pittsburgh Steelers; Eric Fisher, Kansas City Chiefs

Guard: David DeCastro*, Pittsburgh Steelers; Marshal Yanda*, Baltimore Ravens; Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts

Center: Maurkice Pouncey*, Pittsburgh Steelers; Mike Pouncey, Los Angeles Chargers

Tight end: Travis Kelce*, Kansas City Chiefs; Eric Ebron, Indianapolis Colts

Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes*, Kansas City Chiefs; Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers; Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Running back: James Conner*, Pittsburgh Steelers; Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers; Phillip Lindsay, Denver Broncos

Fullback: Anthony Sherman*, Kansas City Chiefs

DEFENSE

Defensive end: J.J. Watt*, Houston Texans; Myles Garrett*, Cleveland Browns; Melvin Ingram, Los Angeles Chargers

Interior lineman: Geno Atkins*, Cincinnati Bengals; Jurrell Casey*, Tennessee Titans; Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers

Outside linebacker: Von Miller*, Denver Broncos; Jadeveon Clowney*, Houston Texans; Dee Ford, Kansas City Chiefs

Inside linebacker: C.J. Mosley*, Baltimore Ravens; Benardrick McKinney, Houston Texans

Cornerback: Xavien Howard*, Miami Dolphins; Jalen Ramsey*, Jacksonville Jaguars; Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots; Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns

Free safety: Derwin James*, Los Angeles Chargers; Eric Weddle, Baltimore Ravens

Strong safety: Jamal Adams*, New York Jets

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker: Jason Myers*, New York Jets

Long snapper: To be named by coach.

Punter: Brett Kern*, Tennessee Titans

Return specialist: Andre Roberts*, New York Jets

Special teamer: Adrian Phillips*, Los Angeles Chargers

NFC PRO BOWL ROSTER BY POSITION

OFFENSE

Wide receiver: Julio Jones*, Atlanta Falcons; Michael Thomas*, New Orleans Saints; Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings; Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers

Tackle: Tyron Smith*, Dallas Cowboys; Terron Armstead*, New Orleans Saints; Trent Williams, Washington Redskins

Guard: Zack Martin*, Dallas Cowboys; Brandon Brooks*, Philadelphia Eagles; Trai Turner, Carolina Panthers

Center: Alex Mack*, Atlanta Falcons; Max Unger, New Orleans Saints

Tight end: Zach Ertz*, Philadelphia Eagles; George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

Quarterback: Drew Brees*, New Orleans Saints; Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams; Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Running back: Todd Gurley*, Los Angeles Rams; Saquon Barkley, New York Giants; Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk*, San Francisco 49ers

DEFENSE

Defensive end: Cameron Jordan*, New Orleans Saints; DeMarcus Lawrence*, Dallas Cowboys; Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings

Interior lineman: Aaron Donald*, Los Angeles Rams; Fletcher Cox*, Philadelphia Eagles; Akiem Hicks, Chicago Bears

Outside linebacker: Khalil Mack*, Chicago Bears; Ryan Kerrigan*, Washington Redskins; Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings

Inside linebacker: Luke Kuechly*, Carolina Panthers; Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks

Cornerback: Kyle Fuller*, Chicago Bears; Patrick Peterson*, Arizona Cardinals; Darius Slay, Detroit Lions, Byron Jones, Dallas Cowboys

Free safety: Eddie Jackson*, Chicago Bears; Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings

Strong safety: Landon Collins*, New York Giants

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker: Aldrick Rosas*, New York Giants

Long snapper: To be named by coach

Punter: Michael Dickson*, Seattle Seahawks

Return specialist: Tarik Cohen*, Chicago Bears

Special teamer: Cory Littleton*, Los Angeles Rams

AFC PRO BOWL ROSTER BY TEAM

Baltimore Ravens (3): ILB C.J. Mosley*, FS Eric Weddle, G Marshal Yanda*

Cincinnati Bengals (1): DT Geno Atkins*

Cleveland Browns (2): DE Myles Garrett*, CB Denzel Ward

Denver Broncos (2): RB Phillip Lindsay, OLB Von Miller*

Houston Texans (4): OLB Jadeveon Clowney*, WR DeAndre Hopkins*, ILB Benardrick McKinney, DE J.J. Watt*

Indianapolis Colts (2): TE Eric Ebron, G Quenton Nelson

Jacksonville Jaguars (1): CB Jalen Ramsey*

Kansas City Chiefs (6): OT Eric Fisher, OLB Dee Ford, WR Tyreek Hill*, TE Travis Kelce*, QB Patrick Mahomes*, FB Anthony Sherman*

Los Angeles Chargers (7): WR Keenan Allen, RB Melvin Gordon, DE Melvin Ingram, FS Derwin James*, ST Adrian Phillips*, C Mike Pouncey, QB Philip Rivers

Miami Dolphins (1): CB Xavien Howard*

New England Patriots (2): QB Tom Brady, CB Stephon Gilmore

New York Jets (3): SS Jamal Adams*, K Jason Myers*, RS Andre Roberts*

Pittsburgh Steelers (6): WR Antonio Brown, RB James Conner*, G David DeCastro*, DT Cameron Heyward, C Maurkice Pouncey*, OT Alejandro Villanueva*

Tennessee Titans (3): DT Jurrell Casey*, P Brett Kern*, OT Taylor Lewan*

NFC PRO BOWL ROSTER BY TEAM

Arizona Cardinals (1): CB Patrick Peterson*

Atlanta Falcons (2): WR Julio Jones*, C Alex Mack*

Carolina Panthers (2): ILB Luke Kuechly*, G Trai Turner

Chicago Bears (5): RS Tarik Cohen*, CB Kyle Fuller*, DT Akiem Hicks, FS Eddie Jackson*, OLB Khalil Mack*

Dallas Cowboys (5): RB Ezekiel Elliott, CB Byron Jones, DE DeMarcus Lawrence*, G Zack Martin*, OT Tyron Smith*

Detroit Lions (1): CB Darius Slay

Green Bay Packers (2): WR Davante Adams, QB Aaron Rodgers

Los Angeles Rams (4): DT Aaron Donald*, QB Jared Goff, RB Todd Gurley*, ST Cory Littleton*

Minnesota Vikings (4): OLB Anthony Barr, DE Danielle Hunter, FS Harrison Smith, WR Adam Thielen

New Orleans Saints (5): OT Terron Armstead*, QB Drew Brees*, DE Jordan Cameron*, WR Michael Thomas*, C Max Unger

New York Giants (3): RB Saquon Barkley, SS Landon Collins*, K Aldrick Rosas*

Philadelphia Eagles (3): G Brandon Brooks*, DT Fletcher Cox*, TE Zach Ertz*

San Francisco 49ers (2): FB Kyle Juszczyk*, TE George Kittle

Seattle Seahawks (2): P Michael Dickson*, ILB Bobby Wagner

Washington Redskins (2): OLB Ryan Kerrigan*, OT Trent Williams

* Indicates starter

Christian McCaffrey was a true jack-of-all-trades for the Carolina Panthers on Monday night.

McCaffrey ran the ball 15 times for 53 yards, he caught eight passes for 67 yards, and he threw a 50-yard touchdown pass on a trick play.

He is the first player since Walton Payton (1985) to have 50 or more yards rushing, receiving and passing all in the same game.

Cam Newton is dealing with a shoulder issue, but Ron Rivera says the Carolina Panthers aren't ready to shut down their quarterback.

The Panthers still have a slim chance to make the playoffs with two games remaining.

"Believe it or not there's still a slim gimmer so we'll see," Rivera said. "Again, we'll continue to focus in on playing football and we got Atlanta coming to town and all intents and purposes, we play to win."

On Monday night, Newton didn't attempt a single pass of more than 20-plus air-yards downfield.

Todd McShay has released his latest mock draft with Nick Bosa going to the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 1 overall selection, followed by Rashan Gary of Michigan going to the San Francisco 49ers.

1. Arizona: Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State
2. San Francisco: Rashan Gary, DE, Michigan
3. Oakland: Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama
4. NY Jets: Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
5. Atlanta: Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
6. Buffalo: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
7. Jacksonville: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
8. Tampa Bay: Greedy Williams, CB, LSU
9. Detroit: Josh Allen, DE/OLB, Kentucky
10. NY Giants: Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
11. Cincinnati: Devin White, LB, LSU
12. Cleveland: Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
13. Washington: Cody Ford, OT Oklahoma
14. Carolina: Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss
15. Green Bay: Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
16. Philadelphia: Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
17. Miami: Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
18. Denver: Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
19. Indianapolis: Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
20. Tennessee: Jachai Polite, OLB, Florida
21. Baltimore: Devin Bush, ILB, Michigan
22. Minnesota: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
23. Pittsburgh: Jaylon Ferguson, DE, Louisiana Tech
24. Seattle: Jeffery Simmons, DT, Mississippi State
25. Oakland (from Dallas): Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama
26. Oakland (from Chicago): Noah Fant, TE, Iowa
27. Houston: Michael Deiter, C/G, Wisconsin
28. LA Chargers: Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame
29. New England: Dre'Mont Jones, DT, Ohio State
30. LA Rams: Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State

Cam Newton is still experiencing pain in his right shoulder a year and a half after it was surgically repaired.

It's bothering Newton to the point that it is a factor in games and practice. He could have another procedure after the season.

"But at the end of the day, I just know, I'm healthy enough to play," the Carolina Panthers quarterback said. "I'm not going to let nothing hold me back from being able to help my team. I definitely don't want to be a liability. I just want to make sure that I'm putting myself and this team in the best position to win football games."

Ron Rivera will take over defensive playcalling for the Carolina Panthers following their firing of defensive line coach Brady Hoke and assistant secondary coach Jeff Imamura.

Rivera took over the playcalling for the defense on Sunday, but he did not fire first-year defensive coordinator Eric Washington, who now will oversee the defensive front seven.

"Eric is a professional,'' he said. "He's done this for a long time. His track record speaks for itself, especially dealing with the front seven, especially the front four.

"I have a bit of experience at playcalling and putting defenses together. It's an opportunity for me to work even closer with him to help him out as we go forward. Y'all got to remember your first time doing something. You weren't perfect and somebody had to help you. That's really what I'm here for.''