Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton hasn't experienced the season he envisioned -- his year derailed by a foot injury that occurred in the preseason. Newton has not seen any action in a game since Week 2, and it's uncertain if he will again at any point in 2019.
On Friday, the Panthers announced that Newton had traveled to Green Bay, Wisc., for a visit with renowned foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson, who previously served as an assistant team physician with Carolina.
“I spent a long time speaking with Cam this week and he’s done everything he possibly can in his rehab process to get his foot to 100 percent,” Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said in a press release Friday. “Unfortunately, we haven’t reached that point. The next step is for him to go see Dr. Anderson and gather more information.”
Newton has not practiced with the team either of the last two days.
Newton had originally injured his foot in a preseason game against the New England Patriots, and then aggravated the injury in a Week Two loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kyle Allen has filled in as the team's starter since.
Following the Patriots game, Newton's injury was believed to have been a mid-foot sprain, and rested for several days before returning for Week One's game against the Los Angeles Rams. Although the Panthers came within a field goal of besting the defending NFC Champions, Newton threw no touchdowns during the game, completing 65.8 percent of his passes (25 of 38) for 239 yards with one interception. Week Two's contest was much more disturbing, as Newton's completion percentage dropped to only 49 percent (25 of 51) for 333 yards and no score.
While Newton has been largely out of the public eye since last playing, he has been around and present for the Panthers throughout his recovery.
Newton was drafted No. 1 overall by Carolina in the 2011 NFL Draft. Prior to his professional career, Newton starred at Auburn, where he led the Tigers to a national championship during the 2010 campaign as a senior. Newton won the 2010 Heisman Trophy with 2,854 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns and 21 rushing touchdowns for the Tigers. College Football News recently ranked Auburn as the No. 13 overall school in terms of college quarterbacks, with Newton as one of the brightest stars.
The Panthers, 4-3, host the Tennessee Titan at home this Sunday, with kickoff slated for Noon ET. Carolina was riding a four-game winning streak before suffering a lopsided 51-13 loss to the undefeated San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., last weekend.