Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton won’t be able to avoid rotator cuff surgery after all. After injuring his throwing shoulder in a Week 14 game against the San Diego Chargers, Newton toughed it out until the end of the season before starting up a rehab program with the team’s trainers. That rehab program did not go according to plan.
Newton will go into surgery on March 30.
NEWS ALERT: Panthers QB Cam Newton scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery on March 30th. pic.twitter.com/tbyz0OqouO
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) March 21, 2017
“The thing we need to stay away from the most is throwing, but he will start immediately with range of motion and rotator cuff exercises,” Panthers head trainer Ryan Vermillion said. “The positive thing, unlike when he had ankle surgery, is that he will still be able to work on his conditioning, work on his core, work on the rest of his body. Twelve weeks following surgery, Cam will begin an early throwing program with me. If he progresses well he will start throwing with the team at 16 weeks after surgery and we’ll go from there. Our goal is to have him back at the start of training camp.”
Newton took a lot of hits last season, and, frankly, wasn’t protected enough by the referees on what would be illegal hits on any other quarterback. Regardless of whether the NFL refs will actually call games fairly for Newton or not, Panthers head coach Ron Riviera has reportedly mandated a more “get our QB hit less” style of offense for the upcoming season.
Newton isn’t the only Panthers player that will spend some time on the operating table. Defensive end Charles Johnson and wide receiver Damiere Byrd will both have offseason surgeries. Both mean are expected to be ready when training camp begins.
Last year Newton completed a career-low 52.9 percent of his passes for 3,509 yards, 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He carried the ball 90 times for 359 yards and five touchdowns.
Alonso gets to stay in Miami
For a highly drafted and successful NFL player, linebacker Kiko Alonso has been on the move a lot in his young career. After signing a three-year, $25 million extension with the Miami Dolphins Tuesday, maybe he can relax a bit.
Alonso was drafted out of Oregon in the second round by the Buffalo Bills in 2013. He spent two seasons there, technically, but missed all of 2014 with an injury. He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015 when his old college coach decided he wanted all his former players to hang out with him. When Kelly was fired, so was Alonso, shipped off to Miami in a trade. He seems to have finally found a home.
.@MiamiDolphins + Kiko Alonso agree to three-year, $25M contract extension: https://t.co/mcSUX1dTwm (via @MikeGarafolo) pic.twitter.com/p4NL3r1cdg
— NFL (@NFL) March 21, 2017
Last season Alonso played in 15 games, recorded 114 tackles, one forced fumble, four fumble recoveries, four pass defenses, two interceptions and one defensive touchdown.
Free Agency News
Former San Diego Chargers inside linebacker Manti Te’o is signing a two-year deal with the New Orleans Saints Tuesday. Financial details have not been disclosed. Te’o was injured most of last season with the Chargers. In 2015 he had 82 tackles, one forced fumble, half a sack, two passes defended and an interception.
Manti Te'o is smart to sign with Saints, Louisiana has great catfish.
— Ben Webber (@BenWebber23) March 21, 2017
The New York Giants had added former San Francisco 49ers running back Shaun Draughn on a free agent contract. Length and financial details haven’t been released. The Giants also re-signed linebacker Keenan Robinson. Last year Draughn appeared in all 16 games for the Niners, starting one. He carried the ball 74 times for 196 yards and four touchdowns while catching 29 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will consciously couple with former first-round pick Tyson Alualu from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Alualu got a two-year, $6 million deal from Pittsburgh. Alualu started 10 games for the Jags last season and played in 14. He recorded 36 tackles, 2.5 sacks and forced a fumble.
The Atlanta Falcons are filling their camp with fullbacks. Tuesday they signed Derrick Coleman and Soma Vainuku to free agent contracts. They also added Hugh Thornton at guard.
Kamar Aiken will get the chance to bounce back after a year where he was virtually wasted in the Baltimore Ravens’ offense. Thursday Aiken signed a one-year deal with the Colts. Two seasons ago, Aiken looked like an up-and-coming NFL player, hauling in 75 passes for 944 yards and five touchdowns for Baltimore in 14 starts. Last season, he barely saw the field, catching just 29 passes for 328 yards and one TD.
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