Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton rehab timeline a wait and see affair

Carolina Panthers hope quarterback Cam Newton is ready for the 2019 season.

Following a second shoulder surgery in three years, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton again finds himself in the recovery process. A partially torn rotator cuff was initially to blame and after Newton played the final three games of 2016, despite a losing record, his offseason was interrupted by going under the knife.

Initially, the Panthers training staff and doctors had hoped Newton’s arm would heal on its own, but after a few months, surgery was needed. Repairing his rotator cuff in March of 2017, Newton was delayed in his rehab process and not able to participate in training camp or much of the preseason.

The former No. 1 overall pick and Panthers franchise quarterback didn’t even throw a football for almost three months following. Once able, the timeline before he was cleared completely involved many different steps, tests and evaluations. Ultimately, Newton returned for the regular season leading Carolina to the playoffs for the fourth time in his eight seasons.

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A hot start to 2018 felt like the Panthers were on pace to make it five but Newton’s shoulder was aggravated after absorbing a hit from Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt. The hit would derail a 6-2 Carolina team who would go on to lose their next seven football games.

Newton struggled with his range of motion and the ability to throw the football down the field wasn’t there. When game situations called for a Hail Mary type pass, Newton was pulled for backup Taylor Heinicke on more than one occasion. Eventually coach Ron Rivera and the medical staff decided Newton should be shut down completely for the final two games of the year.

Surgery was again required, although according to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Charlotte Observer, “the procedure was a clean-up, not a repair”. Good news for Newton, but the real test will be if it was enough – which won’t be determined until Newton is again allowed to throw the football.

Even then, completing the throws on air and in practice are much different than targeting receivers 20 or 30 times during a game. While the Panthers hope to have a healthy Newton available for training camp and the preseason, they shouldn’t take any chances.

Once the free agent market opens and the NFL Draft unfolds, fans will have a better understanding of what the timeline is for Newton. If Carolina doesn’t make any roster moves around the quarterback position, then a full recovery is likely expected before the season.

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If a potential starter is signed or drafted, Newton’s return may be delayed.

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