Newton's injury forces Week 1's Panthers-Rams off Caesars oddsboard
The Carolina Panthers could be without quarterback Cam Newton for their Week 1 opener against the Los Angeles Rams, and at least one sportsbook pulled the game from its board until his status is confirmed.
Carolina is "cautiously optimistic" that Newton can play in the Sept. 8 opener after suffering a "mid-foot sprain" in Thursday's preseason loss to the Patriots, according to The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue.
The injury forced Caesars to suspend betting for the contest, with oddsmaker Alan Berg telling theScore on Friday that it would stay off the board until his shop learned more about Newton's Week 1 status. The Westgate LV SuperBook moved the Panthers from +3 (+120) to +3 (+140) against the Rams, with no movement on the 50.5 total.
SuperBook Race & Sports manager Derek Wilkinson said most of the money wagered has come in on the Rams. "Not much from the wise guys yet, just public money," Wilkinson said.
Newton's injury comes a week after the SuperBook pulled the Colts-Chargers game from its Week 1 board amid concerns of Andrew Luck's health. Luck is still questionable for that contest.
If Newton were to sit for Week 1, it would mark the fourth time since 2014 that he's missed at least one game. The 30-year-old quarterback was already coming off shoulder surgery and a lengthy rehab process that had initially put his status for the opener into question.
The Panthers are 2-3 ATS and 4-1 to the under in his five missed games since '14, according to Sports Database. They're 42-38-1 ATS (52.5 percent) and 45-34-2 to the over (57 percent) when he plays.
Carolina has only faced the Rams once in Newton's previous eight seasons: a 13-10 win in 2016, before Sean McVay took over in Los Angeles.