In the span of one week, Jay Cutler and Cam Newton were hit with the kind of news no quarterback wants to hear- you’ve lost a starting wide receiver for a chunk if not all of the season.
For Cutler, the news came on August 15, when rookie Kevin White was lost for at least the first six games of the regular season, thanks to surgery on his shin. Later on, Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace announced the injury could cost White the entire 2015 season.
Bears GM Ryan Pace says possibility Kevin White could miss entire season.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 15, 2015
It’s an especially devastating blow to the Bears and Cutler, who has excelled with a No. 1 WR at his side. Now instead of having White on one side, and the emerging Alshon Jeffrey on the other side, with Eddie Royal in the slot, Cutler will have to adjust to a different set of receivers. Marquess Wilson, who started the final three games of the season after Brandon Marshall’s season ended, finished with 12 catches on 18 targets for 100 yards and a score. He more than likely takes over opposite Jeffrey.
In Carolina, the injury to WR Kelvin Benjamin is a tremendous blow for a team on the rise in the NFC. On Wednesday, Benjamin, the rookie standout, tore his ACL, ending his 2015 season.
The Panthers, who have the defense, were building up their offense, adding 6’4 rookie receiver Devin Funchess to pair him alongside the 6’5 Benjamin, but that will have to wait until 2016. It’s a blow to the gut for Carolina and in particular for Cam Newton, who now starts all over again next season with uncertainty at WR. Funchess at one point prior to the NFL Draft, was being considered as more of a tight end than a receiver, yet suddenly, he’s the No. 1 guy in Carolina at wide out.
Both Cutler and Newton were hit hard with injuries that have taken some steam out of their 2015 outlook, however there’s no doubt, that the Benjamin’s injury hurts Cam more than White’s injury hurts Cutler. Both QBs will have to adjust, and hopefully in 2016, they’ll have both WRs back and healthy.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
