When Carolina Panthers star quarterback Cam Newton got up wincing from pain after a hit in the Panthers’ Week 3 preseason loss to the New England Patriots last Friday (August 22, 2014), the team understandably feared the worst.

After all, Newton has spent the offseason recovering from a surgical procedure on his ankle; limiting his training camp and exhibition reps. He just made his preseason debut a week ago today (August 17, 2014) against the Kansas City Chiefs.

And while the diagnosis isn’t glaringly positive, it looks like the Panthers have dodged a bullet for the most part. The team just tweeted that Newton acquired a hairline fracture in his rib on Friday, but will be ready for the team’s Week 1 regular season contest:

Rivera says Cam Newton has a hairline fracture in one of his ribs. Newton won’t play vs. Steelers. Rivera thinks he’ll be ready for Week 1.

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 24, 2014

Nick Coit of ABC6 in Providence, Rhode Island, said that the injury reportedly came on this hit from Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins:

Cam Newton has hairline fracture in ribs…reports say it happened on this hit by #Patriots LB Jamie Collins @ABC6 pic.twitter.com/eotegj1xGl

— Nick Coit (@NickCoit) August 24, 2014

The Panthers starter will be held out of the teams Week 4 preseason game, but he should be ready to go for his team’s regular season battles in the ought NFC South. But with lingering rib and ankle injuries hobbling him before the season has even started, 2014 is off to a rough start for Newton. Can he turn things around with his elite skillset?