CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 12: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter of their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Cam Newton’s future with the Panthers is murky at best, but Carolina is smart to be patient with his recovery this season.
The Panthers have a quarterback controversy headed their way once Cam Newton returns to the practice field. Officials in Carolina aren’t in any hurry to make a decision on their starting quarterback though. The franchise is doing the right thing by giving Newton all the time he needs to get his body back to 100% before he steps back onto the field.
It would be easy for Ron Rivera and his coaching staff to be tempted into rushing the former No. 1 pick back into action. The Panthers have bounced back from an ugly 0-2 start by reeling off four straight victories. That puts Carolina in contention for the NFC South Division title just one game behind the New Orleans Saints.
Interestingly, all four of the team’s victories this year have come with Kyle Allen under center. No rational football fan can support the idea that a healthy Allen is better than a healthy Newton, but it’s also impossible to ignore how well Allen has played this season. His quality quarterback play has kept the team’s season alive despite the loss of their emotional leader.
It’s very possible Allen has done more than that. He may ultimately unseat Newton as the team’s starting quarterback. The Panthers need to see exactly what they have in a healthy Newton before they can make a decision that could alter their franchise’s trajectory so drastically. Clearly, Rivera and his staff want to give Newton every possibility to show them that he’s back to perfect health and ready to reclaim his job.
It’s very clear that the Panthers always planned to treat Newton with the utmost caution. They told him they would not “pressure” him to return when he first suffered his foot injury. The stellar play of Allen in his absence only makes it easier for the team to honor their original promise.
The key question now becomes when the Panthers will be forced to make a choice between two healthy quarterbacks who are capable of playing at a high level. Newton should return to the practice field after the team’s Week 7 bye. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be cleared for full contact. Expect the team’s medical staff to try to give him a few more weeks of rest before they say he’s ready to withstand full contact again.
The Panthers can’t protect Newton forever, but they’re smart to keep him safe for as long as possible. He’s only going to get one chance to come back and prove he’s the right guy to play over Allen. Rushing him back onto the field would only increase the likelihood of him losing that battle or reinjuring himself. Neither is a good outcome for a team that values both their present and future.