Panthers’ Cam Newton did not practice Wednesday ahead of Cardinals game

Sep 18, 2019, 10:25 AM | Updated: 10:38 am

Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers runs off the field after their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

BY ARIZONA SPORTS

As the week progresses, the possibility that Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton plays against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday remains uncertain.

Newton did not practice on Wednesday, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said he was told if Newton was not practicing, it did not look good for Newton to play Sunday.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported that Newton was not at practice on Tuesday. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero followed up and added that Newton’s “status for Sunday is up in the air after he aggravated a foot injury.” Newton was rehabbing during practice.

Carolina GM Marty Hurney told reporters that Cam Newton informed the team of the aggravated foot injury after last Thursday night's loss to the Buccaneers. The team does not have a solid timeline for when Newton will be able to play, saying the Panthers "will see how it goes."

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 17, 2019

Panthers head coach Ron Rivera confirmed the reports of the injury while speaking with the media on Tuesday, saying he found out about Newton’s foot being “sore” after Thursday night’s game and received treatment over the weekend.

“I visited with him and he’s going to do everything he can to get back out there as soon as he can,” Rivera said. “If Cam can’t play, Kyle [Allen] will be our starting quarterback.”

Newton, 30, has started both games so far for the Panthers, who are 0-2 after one-possession losses to the Rams and Buccaneers. He owns a 56.2 completion percentage this year, which is on pace for the second-worst mark of his career. Newton has yet to throw or run for a touchdown this season and has thrown one interception.

Should Newton be forced to miss time, Kyle Allen and Will Grier are the Panthers’ second- and third-string quarterbacks, respectively.

Allen, who went to Desert Mountain High School in Arizona, went to Texas A&M before eventually landing with the University of Houston. While at A&M, Allen and Cardinals QB Kyler Murray were teammates in 2015.