FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — It seemed like momentum was there for Cam Newton.
The veteran was brought into a difficult last season with the Patriots. He signed late in the offseason, missing all virtual meetings. When training camp started, there were no preseason games due to COVID-19. The results weren’t there for Newton or the Patriots. He set a franchise record with 12 rushing touchdowns, but struggled to throw the ball as the team finished 7-9.
That’s why it was so important that the 32-year was present when offseason workouts started for the Patriots. That’s also why it was tough to see Newton suffer an injury on Friday during the Patriots' sixth practice of OTAs.
The veteran quarterback suffered an apparent injury to his right hand about an hour into the day’s session. Newton didn’t leave the field, but didn’t throw another pass and watched from afar for the rest of the day.
For a quarterback who is trying to again win the Patriots starting quarterback job and get back on track, Newton needs all the reps he can get.
When did Newton get hurt?
The Pats were in "Period 9" of practice when Newton left a throwing drill to meet with trainer Jim Whalen and team doctor Mark Price. He could be seen flexing his hand and making a fist. Newton was focused on his hand and looked like he was checking for any swelling. It’s unknown when the injury occurred, but it’s possible Newton hit his hand on either a teammate’s helmet during 11-on-11 drills or a pad used by the staff to try to deflect a pass.
After meeting with the medical staff, Newton didn’t return to practice. Instead, Mac Jones and Jarrett Stidham got more reps with the starters. After the injury, Newton was met at midfield by Patriots owner Robert Kraft. The two spoke briefly before Newton took a knee to watch his fellow quarterbacks go through a position drill.
Newton finished practice by watching the team go through 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, so it seemed positive that he didn’t leave to get further medical evaluation. The quarterback could be seen showing his right hand to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and wide receiver Nelson Agholor.
“Oh, I’ll let him speak on that,” Agholor said, when questioned about Newton’s hand. "You still feel him, man. That's why he's a great teammate ... because he loves football. Even when he's not physically taking any reps, you still feel his presence. That's every week."
Players, coaches react
If Newton misses more time, it’ll be a tough setback for the former MVP who continues to impress coaches and teammates with his energy, work ethic and leadership.
“First thing I always knew about him was he loved the game of football and you see that when he steps out on the field,” Agholor said. “He has great energy. He loves football. He loves to work. I appreciate that about him and I love working alongside him.”
“He's worked really hard and he worked hard all year last year,” McDaniels said on Thursday. “He was certainly in a point when he got here that was a unique situation, having really no experience and exposure to our system prior to training camp starting. I honestly can't remember another time in my career where we've had a player that has done that. Even the rookies that get drafted, they get information prior to the end of the spring.
“So it was a unique scenario. He worked his butt off last year to do it and then he came back certainly this year at a much different position. He has a different grasp of the offense, a different understanding of the terminology.”
It’s a positive development that Newton has a better understanding of the Patriots offense. They’ll need that if they want to improve upon last season. Of course, Newton needs the reps in practice with two young quarterbacks in Jones and Stidham gunning for his job.
We won’t know how much time Newton misses – if any – as the media won’t be at Gillette Stadium until next Friday, June 11 for the team’s last day of OTAs. The media will also be present for the team’s three-day minicamp the following week from June 14-16.
