Just a day after the NFL season ended, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Carolina Panthers believe Cam Newton could be ready by training camp.
On January 24, Newton underwent partially torn rotator cuff surgery, his second operation in three years. Newton told 680 The Fan in Atlanta this past week that his throwing arm was “better than I thought it would be.” The Carolina Panthers haven’t publicly established an official return date for Newton.
On February 7, Newton announced the launch of his new YouTube page that provides fans with a closer look at the quarterback’s personal life on and off the field, much to many fans’ excitement. Episode One starts off with a playful Cam Newton counting backward while the anesthesia sets in as he prepares for his surgery.
Newton goes on to reflect on the emotional distress the lingering injury caused. “I just backed myself into this hole and I was hurting,” said Newton. He further illustrated just how dark things became by saying, “I felt so vulnerable. I felt so scared. I felt so afraid because I knew I wasn’t myself.”
Towards the conclusion of the episode, Dr. Pat Connor, the team’s head physician, provides an optimistic outlook on Newton’s newly-repaired shoulder by mentioning that the “cartilage damage was not as extensive as we feared.”
Newton is coming off a season where he had a career-high completion percentage of 67.9 percent, leaving room for speculation towards what could’ve been if he remained healthy. Newton emphasizes that he hears critics and doubters who say his best years are behind him. He elaborates by stating this setback will propel him to the next level, “making me more dangerous.”
Newton’s encouraging words bring much-needed hope to a fan base whose recent hopes were dashed quickly in 2018 after a red hot 6-2 start went south. Prior to the release of Newton’s minimal shoulder damage diagnosis on January 24, Panthers owner David Tepper informed ESPN reporter David Newton that resting Cam Newton for the entire 2019 season is an option if it meant a full recovery of the former MVP’s right shoulder.
This was followed by an internet frenzy as fans were left to speculate on the enigma status of his shoulder. With the newly-released details, fans should now be able to have peace of mind regarding Newton’s health.
7 Responses