Newton done for '19
The Carolina Panthers placed Cam Newton on injured reserve Tuesday, officially ending his 2019 season. It's the first time during his nine-year career that the top pick in the 2011 NFL Draft will miss significant playing time.
Newton missed a total of three starts prior to 2018 before being benched for the final two games of last season because of a shoulder injury. It's a left midfoot sprain that he suffered during the third week of the preseason -- something now being defined as a Lisfranc injury --that has lingered and is now shutting him down for the season.
“We have said all along that it is impossible to put a timetable on this injury," said general manager Marty Hurney of Carolina.
So now what?
The move came after a end-of-week visit to noted foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson in Green Bay. That move followed perhaps optimism last month that he would return to practice following the post-London week off. Newton did return to workouts, though only performing rehab work along the sidelines or inside of the team's facilities.
Meanwhile, Newton's uncertain status fueled weeks of speculation about not only when the nine-year veteran would return, but if he would also resume duties as the starting quarterback.
After starting the season 0-2, Carolina has won five of its past six games with second-year pro Kyle Allen taking snaps -- a stretch that coincides with Newton going down during a Week 2 loss to Tampa Bay. Newton completed 50 of 89 passes during his two-game season for 572 yards.
"Nobody is more frustrated with that fact than Cam," Hurney said. "He’s one of the fiercest competitors I’ve been around during my 20-plus years in the League. At this time, we have decided that the best decision to reach the goal of bringing the foot back to 100 percent is to place Cam on injured reserve.”
Carolina (5-3) plays at Green Bay (7-2) on Sunday.
