Carolina Panthers: Curtis Samuel catch stirs up mixed emotions

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Curtis Samuel makes great diving catch during practice.

The Carolina Panthers preparations for the upcoming 2019 season continued this week with another phase of Organized Team Activities (OTAs). The voluntary workouts have been attended by much of the roster as many new faces get their first taste of the NFL, in addition to a few offseason veteran additions who decided to join the Panthers.

The first team drills and competition pitting offense against defense has been a highlight of the workouts. Linebacker Luke Kuechly appears to be flourishing, as expected, as he and the Carolina defense adjust to the use of more 3-4 fronts – a change from the traditional Ron Rivera 4-3 scheme.

However, it was two returning players on offense who recently completed a highlight play with quarterback Kyle Allen hitting an outstretched Curtis Samuel deep down the field. The separation Samuel managed to get down the field using his speed was impressive and the throw equaled in comparison.

Leading Samuel to the outside, away from the defender, Allen put the ball in a place where only his guy could make the play. Yes, Samuel needed to leave his feet in order to make the catch but after not witnessing many plays of this variety throughout all of 2018, it serves both to excite and remind fans of the Cam Newton shoulder issues.

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Newton has already passed the throwing window time frame established when he was recovering from the first rotator cuff surgery. A second procedure was performed this past January and while it allows for more recovery time, the fact he hasn’t thrown a football in over four-plus months is slightly concerning.

No one knows exactly how the Panthers franchise quarterback will feel once he does return to normal activities, but if he’s not at 100-percent then plays like Samuel and Allen just made will be scarce, instead of a weapon for the offense.

Provided Newton is unfazed by his shoulder, having Samuel, a speedster on the outside, coupled with D.J. Moore, tight end Greg Olsen and Christian McCaffrey in the backfield is an interesting recipe for offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

So long as everyone remains healthy, it will be fun to see what he cooks up, however, if the same issues arise Carolina faces an entirely different question – one about Newton’s future.