If naming the NFL’s Most Valuable Player at the halfway point of a season was an actual thing, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton might’ve been the pick back in 2018.
Vying for his second such honor, Newton had led his Panthers to a 6-2 mark by Week 9—having completed 67.3 percent of his throws for 1,893 yards, 15 touchdowns and four interceptions. And, as Cam had always done, he added another dimension on the ground—rushing for 342 yards and four more scores to that point.
But the beginning of the end for that impressive campaign came in Week 10, when this happened . . .
The Panthers have still never recovered from this moment when TJ watt sacked Cam Newton and injured his shoulder. Since this game the Panthers have gone 16-40 and used 7 different starting quarterbacks pic.twitter.com/VzZPMkXVq4
— Austin Vallejo (@ValleyJoe24) January 5, 2022
Now, look, that hit continues to sting Panthers fans (and its organization) to this day. But, even if it wasn’t the cleanest attempt at a sack, T.J. Watt probably wasn’t trying to permanently damage Newton’s shoulder.
So, for this week’s edition of “Player Prowl,” let’s bury the hatchet and put a spotlight on 2021’s Defensive Player of the Year.
If we could (hypothetically, of course) pick any Pittsburgh Steelers player to stick on the Panthers roster, it would undoubtedly be Watt. Because duh.
The four-time Pro Bowler and three-time First-team All-Pro would help create a lethal duo off the edge alongside Brian Burns and add to an already dynamic defense. Before this injury-stricken 2022 season, Watt tallied a ridiculous 72.0 sacks over 77 career games.
And although the return from his torn pectoral muscle hasn’t been the greatest comeback story yet—as he’s totaled just a sack and a half through five outings—the 28-year-old star is still, obviously, a player to keep an eye on this Sunday.
Did we get it right? Let us know . . .
Previous Player Prowl picks:
- Week 1 (Cleveland Browns): DE Myles Garrett
- Week 2 (New York Giants): DE Kayvon Thibodeaux
- Week 3 (New Orleans Saints): CB Marshon Lattimore
- Week 4 (Arizona Cardinals): QB Kyler Murray
- Week 5 (San Francisco 49ers): DE Nick Bosa
- Week 6 (Los Angeles Rams): DT Aaron Donald
- Week 7 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): WR Chris Godwin
- Week 8 (Atlanta Falcons): TE Kyle Pitts
- Week 9 (Cincinnati Bengals): QB Joe Burrow
- Week 10 (Atlanta Falcons): CB A.J. Terrell
- Week 11 (Baltimore Ravens): QB Lamar Jackson
- Week 12 (Denver Broncos): CB Patrick Surtain II
- Week 14 (Seattle Seahawks): WR DK Metcalf
