Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton lofted a long pass that fell incomplete on the final play of the first half Friday night, and that’s the closest he came to reaching the end zone.
The top pick of the NFL draft was shut out in his first exhibition-game start, and Newton’s Carolina Panthers lost to the Miami Dolphins 20-10.
Newton played the entire first half, when the Panthers managed only three first downs, had the ball for less than eight minutes and fell behind 17-0. Newton went 7 for 14 for 66 yards, and he ran four times for 18 yards.
Carolina crossed midfield for the first time when Newton ran for 7 yards on the next-to-last play of the half.
Reggie Bush, another former Heisman Trophy winner, played for the first time since joining the Dolphins and totaled 81 yards from scrimmage in three series. He ran eight times for 48 yards, including a 17-yard burst up the middle, and caught two passes for 33 yards.
Miami’s Chad Henne played the entire first half and led the Dolphins to 17 points in five possessions, including 10 points in two series against Panthers reserves. Henne went 15 for 24 for 194 yards, and he had a 17-yard scramble.
Bush won't be Miami's goal line back, but he'll get yards and be productive in PPR leagues as long as he stays healthy. Henne will briefly quiet the critics, and Newton's struggles are another reminder why Carolina's offense will remain run-heavy even though John Fox is gone.
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