Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is due to miss his second consecutive start Sunday when the team travels to Houston to play the Texans. And according to Newton, there’s a chance it may be a while before he sees any action on the field.
In a video blog posted on Friday, Newton confirmed that he suffered a mild Lisfranc sprain, or a mid-foot sprain, in Carolina’s third preseason game against the Patriots. He also confirmed that he attempted to hide the injury before aggravating it in the team’s Week 2 loss to the Buccaneers.
“I’ve decided I will take time away from the game,” Newton said in the video. “This is me being the bigger person and being real with myself and saying ‘Look, what’s the ultimate goal you’re trying to accomplish? Win the Super Bowl. OK, if you want to win the Super Bowl, this is the step you’ve got to take.'”
The nine-year veteran also admitted that he should have revealed the extent of the injury prior to Carolina’s Week 1 game against the Rams. Newton realized that he was unable to run during his pregame jog around the stadium. As for a timeline to return, Newton isn’t sure but knows he wants it to heal all the way through.
“It could very well be a week. Or two weeks. It could be three weeks, it could be four weeks, it could be six weeks,” Newton said. “But I have to understand and know that if it takes that time, I trust in this team that they will — we will — still be in a great situation by the time I get back.”
Staying Put
The injury has definitely taken a toll on Newton’s running game in his first two games. The 2015 NFL MVP ran three times for a career-low minus-2 yards against Los Angeles. He followed that up with two carries for zero yards against Tampa Bay.
This is the same quarterback who has rushed for more yards (4,806) than any QB since entering the league in 2011. Newton ranks third in career rushing yards by a QB, trailing only Michael Vick and Randall Cunningham.
While Newton recuperates, Carolina will continue to hand the keys of the offense to second-year quarterback Kyle Allen. Allen threw four touchdown passes in last week’s 38-20 win over the Cardinals. While the undrafted QB is in charge, Newton will still do whatever he can to support Allen while rehabbing.
“This is the ultimate team sport,” Newton said. “And I want to be the best player for this team. And right now I cannot be the best player for this team if I have an injury that needs time for it to heal.”
For this Sunday’s game against the Texans, Allen and the Panthers are four-point underdogs. Carolina is looking for its first consecutive victories since winning three in a row last season in Weeks 7-9. After Sunday, they’ll return home to host rookie QB Gardner Minshew and the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5. Kickoff between the Panthers and Texans is at noon CT.
