Panthers Keeping Options Open At QB Should Cam Newton’s Shoulder Injury Force Him To Miss Time

Panthers owner David Tepper told reporters on Tuesday that they’re keeping their options open at quarterback in case Cam Newton‘s shoulder injury forces him to miss time next season.

When asked to compare Newton’s situation with that of Colts QB Andrew Luck, Tepper said: “If you told me he took a year off and could recover and be fully recovered and everything else, and that’s what it took, an extra year, why wouldn’t you do [that]?”

“Now we would have to do other things, right? We’d have to go out and get another quarterback. If you could find me some more cap space I’d appreciate that.”

“When you make a decision, this gets into business, or here … you want to keep your options open as much as possible,” Tepper continued. “And you want to put yourself in a position to win. Not a position to lose, but a position to win.

“That means keep your options open and try to have as much [cap] space as you possibly can.”

While Tepper acknowledged Newton could miss time, depending on how his recovery goes, they hoping he’ll be ready in time for the 2019 season.

“Hopefully, Cam’s shoulder is fantastic, right? And we’re hunky dory, all fantastic,” Tepper said. “If it’s not, you may need more cap space. You may need to go out and find somebody. If you don’t, you guys are going to be writing what a dope we are here. Why did we make these other moves?

“So think about that. You want to keep your options open, put yourself in best position as you can to win, and I’m talking again for the long term.”

Carolina elected to shut Newton down in December after they had nothing left to play for.

Newton, 29, is a former first-round pick of the Panthers back in 2011. He entering the fifth year of his six-year, $118.47 million contract that includes $60 million guaranteed and stands to make base salaries of $16.2 million and $18.6 million over the final two years of the agreement.

In 2018, Newton appeared in 14 games for the Panthers threw for 3,395 yards while completing 67.9 percent of his passes to go along with 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also rushed for 488 yards and four touchdowns.