Cam Newton Injury: Panthers Fans Shouldn't Worry About QB After MRI on Shoulder

Few players have taken the league by storm as quickly as Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Cam Newton. The No. 1 overall pick is already Carolina's marquee player, and that is why some may be worried about Newton having an MRI done on his shoulder.

Newton has done it all for the Panthers this season as one of the league's leading passers in terms of yardage, and one of its top touchdown scorers with 11 through the air and eight on the ground. The Panthers have just two wins this season, but their improvement has been obvious.

Without Newton in the fold, it is very possible that they would be winless and in position to pick first once again in 2012. Instead, Newton has provided Panthers fans with hope and a reason to watch the team on a weekly basis.

Despite the shoulder MRI, Newton is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans, and there is no reason to believe he won't play. Players are inevitably going to get some bumps and bruises throughout the season, and I think that is the case with Newton.

Hearing that your quarterback has a shoulder injury can certainly be worrisome, but if it were truly a serious ailment, head coach Ron Rivera wouldn't chance it by playing Newton on Sunday. The Panthers are an improving team, but they aren't going anywhere this season, so they wouldn't risk further injury to Newton.

Even if Newton aggravates the injury against the Titans, it won't be the end of the world. Seeing as Carolina isn't in a playoff race at the moment, it won't hurt the team to sit Newton for a game or two to ensure he is completely healthy.

Newton means absolutely everything to the franchise both as a player and a marketing tool. If the Panthers are going to turn things around in the near future, it will be due to the arm and the legs of Newton.

There is no question that Newton will be in the fold for many years to come, so a minor injury in his rookie season is nothing to worry about. The coaches, trainers and organization as a whole are going to approach anything having to do with Newton with the utmost care.

The only thing Panthers fans have to worry about is if shoulder injuries become a chronic thing for Newton. There is no indication that that is the case, though, so this injury should be treated as a one-time occurrence.

It is only natural to panic when your star player is dealing with some type of injury, but Newton is a tough player who will battle through it. If the condition gets worse, then the team will handle it, but until then, this is nothing more than a minor inconvenience for the star quarterback.