Cam Newton ready to make Carolina Panthers preseason debut

Cam Newton is expected to make his Carolina Panthers preseason debut this Thursday night in New England.

Quarterback Cam Newton hasn’t taken a live snap since Week 15 last year as he attempted to keep the Carolina Panthers playoff chances alive. After an impressive 6-2 start to the season, Carolina dropped seven straight as Newton battled shoulder issues and a once formidable defensive pass rush became nearly non-existent.

Newton underwent a procedure on his throwing shoulder during the offseason and has been on track for a full return by Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams. With coaches and the Panthers training staff closely monitoring his progress, early indications are his arm strength has fully returned.

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Tweaking his throwing motion in an effort to avoid any continued issues, Newton has a lot riding on his health this season. For the first time since being selected No. 1 overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, Carolina picked another quarterback – Will Grier – to potentially groom for the future while hoping he could be ready in an emergency situation right now. Newton is also nearing the end of his current contract and any indication of lingering shoulder issues will definitely impact negotiations.

Electing to sit out the first two preseason contests made sense, as voluntarily putting yourself at risk during a game that doesn’t count remains a questionable decision. Yes, preseason game three is when most coaches play their starters the longest to prepare for the regular season but a veteran like Newton doesn’t necessarily need the extra repetitions.

However, coach Ron Rivera has already indicated many key Panthers contributors, including Newton, will see time against the reigning Super Bowl champions. If New England also decides to play their starters for at least a few series then both teams should get a good look at what to expect as the regular season approaches.

The Panthers and Patriots kick off in Foxborough on Thursday night (8/22) at 7:30pm ET.