Cam Newton fans have been eagerly awaiting his return to the action ever since the injury to his foot forced the Carolina Panthers’ franchise quarterback out prior to Week Three. Since then, the team has seen Kyle Allen do an admirable job. But if you have a former MVP on the roster, you want him in the game.

However, it doesn’t look like he is going to be coming back anytime soon—and it’s time for the Panthers to realize that maybe it’s better if he never comes back at all.

The Curious Case of Cam Newton’s Injured Foot

When the injury occurred back during the preseason, it wasn’t believed to be a serious one. More than two months later, it’s clear that the initial diagnosis was mistaken.

After missing the bulk of the first two months of the season, Newton returned to practice following the Panther’s bye week (Week Seven). Given the shellacking the Panthers received at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers, fans hoped his return was near. But it appears that he is not going to come back anytime soon and could even go on the IR.

He recently visited a renowned foot specialist in Green Bay, Dr. Robert Anderson, to see why his foot was taking so long to heal. Details of the visit have not been released. But according to reports, he will not need surgery—just more time off.

A decision on how Newton and the Panthers will proceed is expected today.

From @NFLGameDay Kickoff: #Panthers QB Cam Newton is weighing his options this weekend and Injured Reserve is on the table for him… Plus, the #Chiefs aren't expected to have QB Patrick Mahomes for today's game. pic.twitter.com/FbkRLtPcUS — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 3, 2019

The Panthers Must Start Thinking About the Future Now

The NFL is all about money and winning games. Cam Newton costs a lot of money ($23.2 million this season; $21.1+ million next season), and he hasn’t been winning many games (he’s 24-24 the last three years). Yes, he has been dealing with a lot of injury issues, but analysts have been saying for years that his style of play would catch up to him eventually. Maybe it has.

Kyle Allen may not be the quarterback of the future for the Panthers—but he could be a serviceable bridge if he isn’t. Yes, the Panthers will have to pay Allen a lot more than $500,000 next season (he’s currently working on a two-year, $1.05 million contract as an undrafted free agent), assuming he keeps winning games. But they could still save a fortune compared to Newton’s salary as they search for their next franchise QB.

Moreover, going with Allen over Newton will make it a lot easier to pay Christian McCaffrey the ridiculous salary he will soon command.

Of course, the idea of letting Cam Newton go for Kyle Allen might strike some fans as lunacy, but let’s be real. Newton is not the superstar of that team anymore. He is not why they win games or why they will remain competitive in the foreseeable future.

Christian McCaffrey is.

It’s a big risk, and it will be a hard decision to sell to some segments of the fanbase, but it’s time for the Panthers to say goodbye to Cam Newton – before it’s too late.