NFL Rumors: No QB Change Happening At Carolina, Newton Era To Continue

KEY POINTS

Newton staying with Panthers
Rhule likely to have wanted Newton to stay
Panthers hope to bounce back with Rhule and a healthy Newton

The Carolina Panthers are in a sensitive situation right now with some believing major changes are coming. However, any change happening will not involve the starting quarterback position. Sources claim that Carolina is sticking it out with Cam Newton despite still recovering from a foot injury.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Panthers are moving forward with Newton according to sources. The update comes not long after the team owner David Tepper issued some interesting comments on the 30-year-old quarterback, leading some to believe that the time of the three-time Pro Bowler is up in Carolina.

“Listen, I’m not a doctor,” Tepper said to ESPN. “And I’ve said it a million times: ‘Is he healthy?’ He’s not a doctor. There’s a lot of different things that can happen. But first is, is he healthy? Tell me that, and then we can talk.”

Hence, Newton is expected to finish out his contract for the coming season. As to what comes next will be a hot topic this coming NFL season. Had the Panthers release or traded the 2015 NFL MVP, Carolina would have had $19.1 million in cap savings. Given that Newton is recovering as of this writing, he does have time to heal up and possibly return for the coming NFL season.

In a previous report, it was mentioned that Newton will start taking on football-related activities by next month. It turns out that this was a sign that the Panthers were moving forward with the top pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. Also, new head coach Matt Rhule could have had a hand in keeping Newton in the fray. Aware of what a healthy Newton can do, the 45-year-old head coach seems pretty aware of who he has at his disposal right now.

Regardless, the immediate concern of the Panthers is to see Newton fully returning this 2020-21 NFL season. The Panthers struggled and finished with a 5-11 record. That included a stretch where they lost eight straight games, their worst since 2001. This eventually led to the firing of Ron Rivera who is now with the Washington Redskins.

Ironically, the eight-game losing streak came about when Newton suffered his foot injury. With a new head coach in Rhule and Newton possibly back, the Panthers hope to bounce back and get back on track this 2020-21 NFL season.