Sports
Panthers QB Cam Newton Having Ankle Surgery, with 4-Month Recovery Time
[Kansas City Star]
In this Jan. 12, 2014, file photo, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton warms up before a divisional playoff NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton will undergo ankle surgery Wednesday that has an expected recovery time of four months, the team said Tuesday.
The injury, to his left ankle, has persisted since Carolina’s playoff loss to San Francisco on Jan. 12.
Team physician and renowned ankle surgeon Dr. Robert Anderson will perform the procedure at Carolinas Medical Center.
“The ankle was sore after the San Francisco (playoff) game and we wanted to see if rest would calm it down, but it is still bothering him and the decision was made to address it,” Panthers head trainer Ryan Vermillion said in a statement.
According to a team spokesman, the ligaments in the ankle had been stretched out, and the procedure will tighten them. The timeline puts Newton out until the start of training camp in late July, meaning he will miss organized team activities this spring.
The ankle has given Newton, who had his most successful season as a professional, pain this offseason. Newton passed for 3,379 yards, 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions on a career-high 61.7 completion percentage, leading the Panthers to a 12-4 record in 2013.
