Panthers quarterback Cam Newton to have surgery for Lisfranc injury
As the Panthers prepare to move on from coach Ron Rivera, another part of the team’s future is taking the next step forward.
Quarterback Cam Newton will have surgery on his left foot next week. He suffered the Lisfranc injury in the team’s third preseason game, vs. the Patriots. He played the first two games of the regular season, both losses, but then did not play again.
The Panthers placed him on injured reserve on November 5, which raises questions and intrigue of why it took so long for Newton to elect to go the surgical route.
Recovery from this type of surgery can take anywhere from 6-10 weeks or longer depending on the injury as detailed by Dr. Robert Anderson, the Panthers former assistant team physician and renowned foot specialist, for NFL.com.
There have been many questions about Newton’s future in Carolina. Tuesday owner David Tepper spoke on Newton, saying that, a day after firing Rivera, it was unknown if the Panthers would also be moving on from their franchise quarterback of nine years.
“Hopefully Cam’s healthy, I frankly don’t know and neither does Cam right now,” Tepper said.
With Newton electing to get surgery, the Panthers will have a clearer timetable for getting answers on the quarterback’s health prior to the time that significant offseason decisions need to be made, including April’s NFL Draft.. The team has gone 5-5 in his absence and his shoulder injury last year played a significant role in the team losing seven straight games after a 6-2 start.
The news about Newton was part of a big day for the future of the franchise. Rivera had his final press conference Wednesday after being relieved of his duties the day prior. He spoke on the importance of having a healthy franchise quarterback and the difference it can make for a team.
“If you have your head coach and your quarterback in position, you have an opportunity,” Rivera said. “You know the biggest thing that happened the last two years that contributed to this long-term mediocrity is the last two seasons is we had no quarterback situation settled. You have a settled quarterback situation you’re pretty doggone good. our problems really didn’t start until when? Until our quarterback got hurt. So at the end of the day, like I said, hopefully (Newton) is going to be healthy.”
Being healthy is something Newton has struggled with over the last two years. The concern is that he may not get to a place where he is fully healthy.
“His return to health without a doubt, I think that’s the most important thing for the young man,” Rivera said. “You know the frustration is, and we all saw it with Andrew Luck, was always being hurt, always rehabbing.”
In a vlog the quarterback released in September, he shared that he had to see for himself that playing at less than 100 percent over the first two games of 2019 was not acceptable.
“I needed to see that me at 80 percent was not OK,” Newton said. “I realize it’s okay to take time. I’ve just gotta get right.”
He met with Rivera and Hurney about his health following the second game of the season vs. Tampa Bay. The group agreed the best solution — both for Newton’s long-term future and for the team in the short-term — was for Newton to let his foot fully heal.
Newton met with a variety of doctors including flying to Green Bay to meet with Dr. Anderson in person.
The 30-year old will have missed more games this season than in his previous eight years combined (five games previously). He has one year remaining on his contract and will count for about $21 million against the 2020 salary cap.
If the Panthers were to release Newton before next season, they could save $19 million and would only incur $2 million in dead money.
Of course moving on from the team’s franchise quarterback and the head coach in one offseason would be quite the clean slate for the Panthers, especially considering they don’t have a clear next option on the roster. Kyle Allen has shown some promise in 10 games in 2019, but has been inconsistent. Rookie third-round pick Will Grier has yet to play a regular season snap.
Newton’s decision to get a procedure will either help him get to a point where he can prove he is healthy enough to remain or show the Panthers that he may never return to being completely healthy.
As Rivera mentioned in his closing press conference, a healthy Newton is a dangerous thing, “We saw last year until the Pittsburgh game what a healthy Cam can do.”
Healthy being the key word still in question.
This story was originally published December 4, 2019 at 11:37 AM.