Following Thursday night’s game, Ron Rivera said Cam Newton‘s early-season struggles were not due to injury. The Panthers’ stance has changed on this front, and their ninth-year quarterback looks set to miss time.
Newton informed Panthers officials of foot pain after the team’s loss to the Buccaneers last Thursday, David Newton of ESPN.com notes. No solid timeline for the former MVP’s return exists, per GM Marty Hurney. This is another mid-foot sprain, per Albert Breer of SI.com (on Twitter). Newton suffered this injury in Week 3 of the preseason and re-aggravated it Thursday. He missed nearly two weeks of practice recovering from the initial foot injury.
It almost certainly sounds like Kyle Allen will start this week against the Cardinals. Allen, who finished last season as the Panthers’ starter, resides in front of third-round rookie Will Grier on Carolina’s depth chart. The Panthers do not plan to sign a veteran in the interim, Rivera added.
Newton initially suffered this foot injury in his short preseason cameo. He played in the Panthers’ first two games but was not especially effective, finishing Week 2 with a 48% completion rate. The Panthers have lost Newton’s past eight starts, this record coinciding with the former MVP’s foot and shoulder maladies. Newton has delivered the highest percentage of uncatchable passes through two games, per Pro Football Focus’ Steve Palazzolo (on Twitter).
Allen and Grier split reps in practice Tuesday. This could be a multi-game absence. The Panthers travel to Arizona and Houston in Weeks 3-4 before returning home to face the Jaguars. Carolina’s bye is not until Week 7.
Some would say hes been missing for the last 8 or 9 games.
That was beautiful
I think he’s ready to call it a career. Plenty of cash, and avenues for business outside of football. He saw what Luck did and very well could do the same next offseason. Its not fun doing rehab for years on end.
I totally agree. His head hasn’t been in it since 2017 it seems. It goes beyond injuries, some guys just don’t have that “football in your blood” thing. No knock on the guy but he does not at all seem “in” the game anymore
Cam comes across as being worn out. NCAA champ & NFL MVP, solid career.
Agreed. He hasn’t been the same after losing the Super Bowl. Perhaps he’ll start a clothes line and do other entrepreneur jobs. I’m sure they’d love to have him in the Broadcast booth.
Ah yes, the ol’ “Yeah, well, actually my foot has been mildly bothering me which is why I can’t go through progressions or make intelligent decisions with the ball” routine.
Hahaha nice
RIGHT!?
Must be the fashion police suspending him for that clown costume last week…
Let Grier play. He is a baller!
Was Cam Newton a stand in for Ed Helms in the movie ‘Tag’? He looked like he was wearing the exact same grandmother costume Helms wore in the movie!
BTW – Who the hell is this Allen guy? They should put Grier in there…I love the way he plays QB and you know for sure he’ll play ‘balz out’ the entire time he’s in the game.
#gohawks
Newton looked like he was in a daze last Thursday night. He was downright awful. Don’t know how much the foot is bothering him, but he’s a big dude, with a lot of weight on that foot. I’ve had plantar fasciitis a couple of times, and if this is anything like that, I can understand it affecting his performance. However, it seemed like he was in a fog. Completely out of it.
Look, when’s last time the Panthers drafted a good offensive lineman or signed one through free agency. Always drafting defensive lineman and bring in retreads to protect Cam. You reap what you sow, and they wasted a unique talent.