NFL: Panthers Right to Shut Down Cam Newton for Rest of 2019 Season
Since Week 2 of this season, the Carolina Panthers have been without the services of star quarterback Cam Newton. He has been on the mend from a foot injury stemming from the preseason that he aggravated that hasn’t seen him make any notable progress in the recovery. All that has led the team to decide to shut him down for the rest of the year, which will wind up being the right move for both sides.
Cam Newton’s struggles with injuries
Over the last few years, Newton has had much difficulty staying on the field as injuries have hampered him.
That has undoubtedly been the case this season as he first suffered a foot injury in Week 3 action of the preseason. Those injury woes came back to limit him once again as he aggravated that ailment in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It has been an uphill battle for him, creating uncertainty around his status for the rest of the season. It has opened the way to backup Kyle Allen to step in as the full-time starter while alleviating much of the pressure for him to get back onto the field.
Given all that, the team has made a final decision on his availability for the rest of the year.
Panthers shut down Cam Newton for rest of 2019 season
Carolina has taken a precautionary approach to Newton’s injury over the last several weeks, while the possibility of him returning this season had remained up in the air.
The Panthers finally have clarity on the matter as the team has elected to shut down their star quarterback for the remainder of the season, according to David Newton of ESPN.
The Carolina Panthers, seeing no clear timetable for Cam Newton to return from a Lisfranc injury, on Tuesday placed their franchise quarterback on season-ending injured reserve.
The decision comes shortly after Newton had visited with foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson last Friday to get clarity on why his foot hadn’t healed further. It’s now clear that it was best to keep him off the field for the rest of the year for him to get back to full health and not let it linger on.
What this also signals is that the Panthers have full confidence that Allen can get the job done in Newton’s absence through at least this season. Beyond that, it was the right choice for the long haul for both sides moving forward.
Panthers will be fine without Cam Newton in 2019
The Panthers may be without one of their most dynamic offensive weapons for the rest of the season, but the team has continued to find success with Allen under center holding a 5-1 record.
He has been a steady option with 1,291 passing yards with nine touchdowns to four interceptions in six games played. These are not standout numbers by any means, but he has primarily been mistake-free with three of his interceptions coming in the blowout against the San Francisco 49ers.
That said, star running back Christian McCaffrey has continued to step up in the increased role in the running game as the primary option. McCaffrey is putting together a career-best campaign that has him in the thick of the MVP race.
It’s much more than that as this extended time off the field will allow for Newton to finally get his body right as injuries have ailed him over the last few years. The Panthers are still committed to him as their franchise cornerstone, but if he’s going to remain in that role, he has to stay healthy, and this may be a blessing in disguise for him for the long haul of his NFL career.
