Cam Newton exits preseason game with foot injury
As if NFL fans didn’t have enough reasons to dislike the preseason, Carolina Panthers star quarterback Cam Newton suffered a foot injury. Luckily, it doesn’t appear to be too serious.
Update: According to NFL insider Ian Rapaport, Newton’s injury is not believed to be serious, though he will be in a walking boot and get tests as a precaution. X-rays were negative and the injury is being labeled as a sprain.
The Carolina Panthers’ hopes and dreams rest on the shoulders of Cam Newton, who ran into injury issues at the tail end of the 2018 season due to all the hits he took under center. Panthers fans hope referees do a better job of protecting their franchise quarterback in 2019, but until then, they are saving most of their positive vibes for Newton’s recent foot injury.
Newton left the first quarter of Carolina’s preseason “dress rehearsal” game against the New England Patriots with a foot injury Thursday night after being sacked by Adam Butler.
He limped off the field and was examined on the sidelines before official team beat writer Max Henson reported that he would be unable to return to the game.
Cam Newton has a foot injury and will not return.
— Max Henson (@maxhenson) August 23, 2019
Naturally, Panthers fans were extremely concerned.
Carolina has the potential to field one of the league’s best offenses in 2019, as Curtis Samuel looks poised for a breakout season alongside another impressive second-year receiver in D.J. Moore. Throw in Greg Olsen at tight end and possible MVP dark horse Christian McCaffrey, and the Panthers have a group that can stand with any of the explosive offenses in the suddenly scary NFC South.
Next. Who is the greatest quarterback in NFL history?. dark
Of course, little of that matters if Newton isn’t 100 percent. Panthers fans have seen Cam carry this team on his back, leading Carolina to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2015 regular season after putting together an MVP year when his team went 15-1. Few quarterbacks have Newton’s downfield ball placement, physical tools and pocket awareness.
Hopefully, Newton’s foot injury is a minor issue and the Panthers are exercising caution by wisely not putting their best player back into a meaningless preseason game after sustaining an injury. But after how the 2018 season ended, Panthers fans will exercise all due caution with one of the NFL’s most important players.