Under coach Ron Rivera, the Carolina Panthers have a history of veiled injury analysis, especially when dealing with franchise quarterback Cam Newton. In 2016, the former No. 1 overall pick was injured in a Week 14 contest against the San Diego Chargers but never missed any time until he had offseason surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. Last year the extent to which Newton was battling shoulder soreness was never fully revealed until after he was finally shut down completely with two games remaining.
The shrouded reporting isn’t illegal, Newton appeared on the injury reports as required but nothing was ever addressed other than soreness and explanations of this being “the new normal”.