NFL Rumors: Cam Newton Return Will Dictate Panthers Next Moves

Cam Newton has been a missing piece for the Carolina Panthers last season, dealing with an injury that simply would not heal. However, it appears that the 30-year-old's Lisfanc injury is doing better with reports that Newton will start some football-related activities starting this March.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Newton will start doing some football activities after undergoing surgery on his injured foot back in December. He missed all but two games during the 2019-20 NFL season. Through those games where he was able to play, the three-time Pro Bowler spent the NFL season trying to rehab his foot to avoid undergoing a medical procedure.

With this development, the road ahead for the Panthers may finally show some direction. Carolina is in a delicate state with a major overhaul expected to come next. They have a new head coach in Matt Rhule, replacing Ron Rivera who is now with the Washington Redskins. It will be interesting if Newton will remain a vital cog for the Panthers under Rhule's watch.

Assuming he is healthy to return, there is also no guarantee that Newton will play on for the Panthers. Rumors are swirling that the 2015 NFL MVP could be traded away, part of a massive rebuild that Carolina is expected to undergo. Should that be the case, the Panthers are not expected to run short of suitors for Newton.

There are several teams looking for a starting quarterback and Newton will undoubtedly be a tempting prospect. The Los Angeles Chargers could check out Newton, someone who could fill in the void left by Philip Rivers who opted to become a free agent. Other teams on the prowl for a quarterback include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Indianapolis Colts.

In a previous post, it was also discussed how the Chicago Bears could be in search of a quarterback next season. Seeing however how the Bears are working on limited cap space, they may not afford Newton unless they do the numbers crunch. Marcus Mariota is a more logical target but the call falls on the hands of head coach Matt Nagy.

For the Panthers, making moves will depend on whether Newton is healthy or not. The NFL trade market officially opens on March 18, followed by the NFL Draft in April. It should also be factored in that Carolina has not mentioned trading Newton (yet) although that is subject to change in the coming months.