Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton reportedly plans to undergo foot surgery to address the lingering pain in his foot from a Lisfranc injury that has sidelined him for a majority of the 2019 season.
According to NFL Network’s Tiffany Blackmon, the Pro Bowl quarterback opted to go under the knife and have surgery after putting it off for several weeks to try and rehab the injury.
The news comes just a day after Carolina fired head coach Ron Rivera after nine seasons. Newton reacted strongly to the news with an emotional and appreciative message on Instagram thanking Rivera for their years together.
Newton, who Carolina placed on injured reserve in November, will now undergo surgery to repair the issue. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the procedure requires eight-to-10 weeks of recovery with a maximum timetable of three months.
The 30-year-old’s decision should have him ready to return to football activities before April. It’s an important timetable for the Panthers, who will be deciding if they should stick with Newton for the 2020 season with a $21.1 million cap hit or move on from the NFL’s MVP in 2015.
If Carolina decides to move on from Newton, the Cincinnati Bengals and Chicago Bears are the early favorites to land Newton in 2020.