CHARLOTTE, NC – SEPTEMBER 12: Cam Newton (1) quarterback of Carolina during a NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers on September 12, 2019, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Unfortunately for the Panthers, they don’t have a quarterback controversy on their hands. Cam Newton isn’t close to being healthy enough to play.
Panthers fans hoping to see Cam Newton return to the field soon are set to be very disappointed. Instead of returning to the field, the former Pro Bowl quarterback is headed to get more medical examination on his injured foot.
Newton went out of action in mid-September with what the team still refers to as a “foot sprain.” According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, he’s now slated to travel to see a specialist in an effort to understand why the foot isn’t “getting better.” Newton has engaged in some rehab work in the last two weeks, but the prospect of him getting back into game action is still a “long way off.”
The Panthers are quickly getting to the point where they will need to make a decision as to whether or not they can reasonably expect Newton to play again in 2019. If they get any measure of bad news from this latest doctor’s visit, it’s highly likely GM Marty Hurney will put his franchise quarterback in Injured Reserve. That would end Newton’s chances of playing again this season, but could theoretically put him in a better position to fully recover in time to enjoy a healthy 2020 campaign.
If Newton does go on IR, it officially hands Kyle Allen the controls of the Panthers’ offense for the rest of the season. He’s been excellent in relief of Newton on the season, but the specter of the franchise quarterbacks’ return to the field has always been looming behind him. Time will tell whether that was a safety net that allowed Allen to play with freedom or a dark shadow that put him under unnecessary pressure.
Putting Newton on IR would also make it really difficult for the franchise to pick a starting quarterback heading into 2020. Newton is clearly the more talented signal-caller, but his lack of ability to stay on the field is a major concern for officials in Carolina. It’s easy to envision a scenario where Allen does enough down the stretch to win the job heading into next season.
No matter what, Newton’s upcoming doctor’s visit has massive implications for his future with the Panthers. If it doesn’t go well, he may have played his last snap for Carolina.