Cam Newton revealed in a video blog released Friday that he was actually hiding just how much his left foot sprain was hurting prior to the 2019 season and he won’t return to the field until he is 100%.
“I was hiding an injury where I could have easily said, ’You know what coach, I don’t think I’m ready. Maybe I need to kind of consider sitting this one out for the betterment” of the team, Newton said. ”… Automatically, I thought, ‘I’ve got to play Week 1. I can’t let my fans down. I’ve got to be there for my team.’”
The Carolina Panthers quarterback stated he plans on taking “time away from the game” because that mid-foot sprain has been bothering him since the third preseason game.
“It could very well be a week. Or two weeks. It could be three weeks, it could be four weeks, it could be six weeks,” Newton said in the video in which he was smoking a cigar and drinking a glass of wine. “But I have to understand and know if it takes that time I trust in this team that they will, we will, still be in a great situation by the time I get back.”
Kyle Allen replaced Cam last week and was magnificent against the Cardinals, leading them to a 38-20 win with his 4 thrown touchdown passes. Allen will be the starter when the team faces the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Newton hasn’t practice since that 20-14 loss to the Bucs.
“Even if somebody is not close to you, you’re trying to guard your foot,” Newton said. “I don’t want nobody to touch it, I don’t want nobody to sack me. So all these things are going on in my head in actual play. For so long I played this game one way, I played this game the only way I know how to play. And at this particular time, that No. 1 (his jersey number) that’s out there, that hasn’t been that same person.”
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Newton said it “rejuvenated” him when the Panthers shut him down in Week 3.
“It takes the ‘Superman’ out of it,” Newton said referring to nickname he has become known for. “I really didn’t want that mantra to be there. You feel like you’re immortal. You feel you can’t do no wrong. You feel like you’re this big, bad guy but truth be told, I’m human. Through this whole time, I’m realizing this.”
