Cautious optimism is the name of the game right now at Bank of America Stadium.
After Marty Hurney said Friday that the team was “cautiously optimistic” that Cam Newton might be able to play in the Panthers’ Week 1 matchup, Ron Rivera reiterated the mantra after practice Saturday, despite the fact that Newton didn’t participate and rehabbed inside the building while still wearing a protective boot.
“We are truly being cautiously optimistic at this stage,” Rivera said. “We anticipate him being out on the practice field soon — but there isn’t really a timetable — and we are doing everything we can to make sure it’s right and ready to roll.”
The walking boot may not necessarily be an indicator of Newton’s health or ability to practice or play, but more of a vehicle to keep the notoriously competitive quarterback off of his foot so that it can properly heal before he returns to practice, which the Panthers seem to think may happen next week – although Newton will not play until the Week 1 opener against the Los Angeles Rams at the absolute earliest.
But while the Panthers wait to see whether or not Newton, who suffered a mid-foot sprain on a third-down sack during the first quarter Thursday night in New England, will be healthy enough to play, they won’t be bringing in a veteran quarterback to work out – they’ll be sticking with Kyle Allen, Will Grier and Taylor Heinicke.
“No. We’re really good about who we have,” Rivera said about his quarterbacks, who went a combined 7-for-14 for 60 yards in three quarters of action Thursday. “We really like what we’re seeing. There have been some things, in terms of decision-making, that have been pretty good.”
An always-sanguine Rivera says the time without Newton in practice will give both young quarterbacks a chance to improve with more reps – with the added value of allowing Newton to rest his surgically-repaired shoulder.
“The young guys can focus in on what they need to, and quite honestly it gives Cam a little more rest. Things are going great with the shoulder, so now he’s getting a chance to rest [his shoulder] a little bit. We’re looking at it that way and putting a positive spin on it.”
Positive spin? Just another way to say cautiously optimistic.
