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The Los Angeles Rams play the Carolina Panthers in Week 1 of the regular season in a little more than two weeks.
Tonight, Panthers QB Cam Newton injured his foot against the New England Patriots in the Panthers’ third preseason game. Afterward, Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera didn’t offer any updates save for that Newton was wearing a protective boot:
Ron Rivera: Cam is in a walking boot. All I can tell you.
— Max Henson (@PanthersMax) August 23, 2019
Ron Rivera says Cam Newton is in a walking boot. Doesn’t know severity of injury because he won’t ask trainers until after meeting w media.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) August 23, 2019
The early word on #Panthers QB Cam Newton, who left the preseason game with a foot injury: It doesn’t appear to be serious, source said. Newton left in a walking boot, which can be used as a precaution. He may get tests tomorrow, regardless.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 23, 2019
We’ll have to see what Rivera and the Panthers disclose if anything this weekend, but there’s no requirement to disclose anything. The first injury report isn’t due until Wednesday prior to Week 1 in less than two weeks.
After starting 6-2 last season, the Panthers finished 1-7 including a six-game losing streak as Newton’s shoulder bothered him. He eventually bowed out skipping the last two contests before having surgery in January. While reports have suggested his shoulder is in good shape again, this foot injury along with ankle tendon issues that required surgery in March 2014 and previously broken vertebrae from a car crash in 2014 as well as rib and throwing hand issues, UNDERSTANDABLY, have Panthers fans concerned.
Newton was one of several notable players hurt in this third week of the preseason. His teammate and the Panthers’ second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft OT Greg Little was carted off; it sounds like he’s being placed in the concussion protocol. Green Bay Packers rookie Rashan Gary, their first-round pick in the 2019 draft, was also carted off after what looked like a head or neck injury. And Washington Tight End Employers TE Jordan Reed was also removed from the game due to concussion which is the seventh of his career.
The Rams won’t play any starters on Saturday against the Denver Broncos in the Rams’ third preseason gams, though some starting-adjacent players like RB Darrell Henderson, DL Jonathan Franklin-Myers, DL Sebastian Joseph-Day and S Taylor Rapp are expected to be play after ILB Micah Kiser injured his pec last weekend and will likely miss the entire 2019 season.
We’ll keep tabs on Cam to see how things are tracking heading toward Week 1.
(UPDATED at 12:17pm ET, Aug. 23)
“cautiously optimistic”
#Panthers QB Cam Newton is back in Charlotte and the official diagnosis is a mid-foot sprain. He had an X-Ray and other tests, and GM Marty Hurney says the team is “cautiously optimistic” that Newton will be ready for Week 1.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 23, 2019