National Football League

Frustrated Cam Newton ready to return to field

Published Sep. 10, 2014 6:07 p.m. ET

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CHARLOTTE -- It was difficult to tell what annoyed Cam Newton more during his weekly press conference Wednesday afternoon, the questions about sitting out next week or the fact that his cracked rib and surgically repaired ankle have yet to fully heal.

Newton was benched before the start of the Carolina Panthers' season opener by head coach Ron Rivera, much to the quarterback's dismay, Rivera said earlier in the week. On Wednesday, each time the Panthers star was asked about sitting out for the first time in his four-year career last Sunday against Tampa Bay, Newton gave the exact same answer:

"My main focus is the Detroit Lions and trying to be protected from Donkey Kong (Ndamukong) Suh and my teammate from Auburn, Nick Fairley."

When asked if he would start this weekend against the Lions, Newton responded with one word, "Absolutely."

Being injured is something brand new to Newton. He was injury-free his entire collegiate career and other than a few bumps and bruises along the way, has been relatively healthy during his professional career. That's why having this lingering issue with his ankle, which was surgically repaired in March and was only supposed to take four months to heal, has been so frustrating.

Add to that the hairline fracture in his lower right rib, which caused him to be benched Sunday, and it's easy to see the tension building within Newton.

"I'm still surprised for me being hurt for this long," he said. "This is a culture shock for me. ... It's kind of like a double bogey for me, being able to get my ribs get treatment while having just the same amount of attention on my ankle. It's been a long process. It's still not 100 percent."

Because he's nursing two injuries, one might think he'd be protective of them when he trots out onto the field Sunday, but Newton said if he does that, he's already lost.

"Playing this game, you can't have nothing holding you back," he said. "If you're thinking, you're wrong automatically. The thing that makes great players great and separates players from different players, being prepared or not, you have to react and if you're thinking, you're already a step behind.

"So, if I'm thinking about a particular injury, then I'm already a step behind. If I'm so gun-shy in the pocket and not worried about the receivers that are open downfield, something's going to happen that's not going to get the job done. My main focus is having confidence in myself and knowing that I'm able to be myself when I'm out there."

Another issue Newton is going to have to deal with is his timing in the passing game with the receivers on routes. Even Rivera admitted earlier in the week that it is a concern.

Newton hasn't been able to do much with the receivers since the day before the third preseason game because of the rib injury.

"You have to get into a groove and understand where guys are going to be," Newton said. "Throughout this whole practice it's been trying to get back into rhythm on how guys are going to run their routes differently. ... My main focus is still trying to get on the same page with all my receivers so come game time everything will be running smoothly."

Nobody, not even Newton, will fully know how limited he is, if at all, until he makes that first throw or takes that first hit or has to scramble for the first time. But regardless of how much pain he's in, just being on the field is therapy in and of itself.

"Every day is still a work in progress to try and get my ankle healthy," he said. "Nothing is hindering me from playing football and that's the great thing for me."

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