Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton should be ready for the opener

This is a great development for the Carolina Panthers.

Carolina Panthers fans, I have some very good news for you. According to head coach Ron Rivera, Cam Newton will “no doubt” be ready for the season-opener against the Los Angeles Rams. The good prognosis comes after what was a very nerve-racking week for the fans in particular.

After Newton got hurt in the first quarter of the team’s preseason game against the New England Patriots last Thursday, fans feared the worst. They would certainly have reason to think that. Particularly over the last year or so, the health of Newton has been a bit murky. After undergoing a procedure to clean out his shoulder, Newton has been slowly working his way back up to game speed. Now, he appears poised to start the season, a feat that many weren’t sure was going to happen.

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I’ll be interested to see how he does. Will he play tentatively and be afraid to make throws? The offensive line will undoubtedly be something I will watch too. They didn’t look that strong against the New England Patriots last Thursday, and they will have one more chance to show exactly what they are made of against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Any angle you decide to look at, the season opener will definitely tell a lot about the direction the team is headed. Normally, I do not put a ton of stock into just one game, but starting the season off on the right foot is certainly pivotal for Carolina. Newton will definitely be a big part of ensuring they get a win over the NFC representatives in last year’s Super Bowl.

As Rivera indicated, Newton has been doing a lot of work to ensure he is ready for the opener. If anything, this speaks to the work ethic of the Carolina Panthers star. It takes a lot to bring him down, something that opponents have found over the course of the past couple years with his effective scrambling ability. I am sure the coach was very happy to deliver this news to the media.

"“No, there’s no doubt in my mind,” Rivera said while hosting an NFL Boot Camp as part of a USAA Salute to Service event. “Everything he’s been doing, everything he’s done, he’s done exactly what he’s needed to. We’re at the point now where it’s just a matter of time before we start our official prep for the Rams that he’s back on the field.”"

This is great news for Carolina. As long as there are no snafus in preparation for the opener, everything looks to be status quo. Newton’s health will undoubtedly be a concern, but it looks like everyone involved is okay with it for now. If anything, it’s an improvement from what we all initially thought last Thursday.

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