Cam Newton could miss Carolina Panthers’ season opener
On Sunday afternoon it was revealed that Carolina Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton suffered a hairline fracture in his ribs.
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Newton was injured when he was hit by New England Patriots’ linebacker Jamie Collins during the Panthers’ 30-7 loss to the Patriots Friday night. Thus far, the injury doesn’t seem serious and most expect him to play in week one but he will be out this week and will not be in action when the Panthers travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers in the preseason finale Thursday night.
“This morning he came in and he was very, very sore,” Panthers’ head coach Ron Rivera said via Max Henson of Panthers.com. “I do (think Newton will be ready for Week 1). He’s got to get past the soreness, which we expect. Then we’ll see how he starts to progress.”
Newton was hit on the only spot that unprotected.
“The way the flak jacket sits, that was the only crease that wasn’t protected,” Rivera said. “Wouldn’t you know it, that’s the one spot he got hit. They asked where he got hit, and he pointed right between the two shells. It’s crazy how that happened, but that’s what happened.”
Of course, no one has made any type of guarantee Newton will play when the Panthers open the regular season when they travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers in just under two weeks. If he can’t go, veteran Derek Anderson will likely get the call.
Stay tuned to FanSided as we get you ready for the start of the 2014 football season over the next few weeks. College Football will kickoff on August 28, headlined by games between the South Carolina Gamecocks and Texas A&M Aggies and the Boise State Broncos and Ole Miss Rebels while the pros will start their regular season a week later when the world champion Seattle Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers.