Cam Newton’s injury problems may be hampering him even more than previously realized.
It’s been widely reported that Newton, who missed Week One with a rib injury, has also been dealing all year with a left ankle injury that required offseason surgery. But according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, Newton is also nursing a right foot injury, and the Panthers training staff believes that Newton’s right foot injury is the result of having to adjust his footwork to compensate for the pain in his left ankle.
Newton looked like he was far less than 100 percent on Monday night, when he threw three interceptions and fumbled twice. And his numbers, both passing and running, are down across the board this season. Newton has a career-low 80.1 passer rating and a career-low 4.5 yards a carry this season, and he’s on pace to finish with career-lows in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and passing touchdown. Newton has already lost five fumbles this season, more than he had previously lost in any full season in his career.
The NFC South is so bad that the 3-6-1 Panthers are in second place and still have a shot of catching the first-place Saints. And the Panthers’ schedule gets easier, as five of their six remaining games are against teams that currently have losing records. So all is not lost in Carolina. But it sure would help if Newton could get healthy. Right now, he’s not even close.
